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Posts Tagged 'objectification'
The Forgotten Pornographers
I spent most of the weekend making porn. On Sunday, I waved a friend off as she went to another city to make porn. On Monday, I read this article. I sighed, and wondered why we're still having the same conversation.
To summarise: Lying feminists pretend that porn is feminist. It isn't. Porn is not about freedom, but economics, and therefore stems from abuse, involves coercion and incites criminality. There is too little feminist porn, and in any case it hardly seems to be porn at all. If feminist porn succeeds, it will be absorbed into the mainstream and made toothless. We should ban pornography outright, or at least ask questions about where it comes from. The pornography-meat metaphor isn't getting tough and stringy.
If you've read Gold's article, with all its prolonged blow jobs and anal penetration, my weekend of semi-clothed photographs, like the one below, and spanking story writing will seem tame. It was hardly ethnically-specific disembodied penis performs opaque metaphor.* Tame things don't count in the debate about contemporary pornography, because the conversation is always about hardcore film, which allows for specific feminist narrative. Female performers are cast as victims, making them unreliable witnesses until they've stopped performing and started talking about how much the experience damaged them, or played on their childhood trauma. The narrowing to one type of pornography, and one narrative of it, effectively silences women.
Inside me, there's a second wave feminist jumping up and down and waving a literature textbook. How were women kept out of the canon for so long? It wasn't because they didn't write, but because their writing didn't count. The form was wrong, they wrote diaries when men wrote sonnets and plays. The content was wrong, they wrote about domestic affairs when men wrote about monarchs and wars. The perspective was wrong, they painted individual psychological portraits when men wrote with lofty omnipotence about huge casts of characters. Later, feminists dug out women's writing, and re-drew the boundaries of literature to fit it in. We made the collective discovery that were women writers beyond Sappho, Julian of Norwich and Jane Austen. It had been hidden, not because it wasn't there, but because nobody talked about it. Women's work just wasn't considered, for the most part, to be the proper stuff.
What's this got to do with pornography? Well, some women are setting up hardcore porn sites, which may or may not look like the ones that are already there. Some women are posing for photos in their vintage lingerie, and whether they sell them or not, they're still making porn, just as Anne Lister was writing in her diary when lesbian women weren't represented in literary fiction. Lots of women are writing erotic stories, and say what you like about the quality of many of them, but after the Fifty Shades phenomenon, we can no longer claim that they don't sell. Sometimes women express their sexuality, sometimes they do what they think the reader wants, or go along with the photographer's idea. Sometimes they're in it for themselves and sometimes they're in it for the money. If I ere in it for the money, I'd have to admit that I'm doing it wrong.
I don't share all of Gold's fears about the effects of pornography, although I too am made uncomfortable by porn filmed with low production values, little respect for women, a large dose of racism and a set of linguistic and visual signs that would make Derrida weep. Feminist projects can fail to be feminist, and the label can be used by unscrupulous women with a crazy urge to make enough money to pay the rent. However, the reason that the few women doing feminist porn projects are the focus of all this adulation and criticism is that we're still focussing on the porn that men produce and consume. While we look at them, and at feminist attempts to do what they do, we obscure work by women in other forms.
I'm not about to go into hardcore film. Spanking films, maybe. Nicely lit photographs of me wearing stockings and looking ecstatic about the fact that I have toes, definitely. Stories and novels, just you try to stop me! The latter things count, so I'm refusing to feel I'm not qualified to comment on the experience of making pornography.
Does making pornography feel feminist? Not really. It isn't like an assertiveness training course or a take back the night march. In gender equality terms, it's kind of neutral. I like it that way; not everything in life has to be a battleground. There's a chance that the worry that I look podgy in this photo stems from a sexist cultural imperative for the female body to conform to unattainable beauty standards.** In that case, the most feminist thing to do is embrace the failure of my stomach to be flat, and post it anyway. I have a feeling I know what Tanya Gold would say to that.
*Who comes up with tags like 'creampie' and 'black cock bangs x' anyway?
**I also wish we'd remembered to take the cane off the wall before we took this picture, but I can't think of an interesting feminist disappointment about that.
Youth and Desirability in the Fetish Scene
This week it was suggested that Manchester Under 35's Munch allow over 35 year olds in, if they have youthful enough partners. I've never been particularly interested in debates about age-limited munches, except to note that I'd never invite the people decrying them to a party, because they'd probably be sending out for more beer when I'm rinsing glasses and yawning pointedly. However, responses to the suggestion have been fascinating. There's a terrifying number of people who think it's acceptable that younger people should never go to events without their partners. A significant proportion of members don't think the age limit is about having something in common with other attendees, but about keeping, "predatory older doms" (PODs?) out. I began to ask some questions. Why are so many older people angry about not being able to come? Why can't young women go to events unaccompanied by their partners? Why is there such a perceived threat of PODs? The answer is obvious: young women are valuable. Everyone wants us. Don't you just want to tie us up and beat us? Well you can't, we're taking our hot, youthful flesh to that pub over there, and shutting you out. Feel free to peer at the goodies through the window.
I'm exaggerating a little. In any case, the rhetoric of the fetish scene is one of inclusivity and acceptance, where many tastes are represented. We're brought together by our difference from the mainstream; you might not share my love of canings, but you share my sense of exclusion. Because there are so few of us, we have to share a space, so we respect one another. Where there are enough people, we divide into groups by preference to make places where we can go to get what we want, and we exclude those who don't share our tastes. And that's personal preference, right? You can't criticise people for that, surely? Well, it's not quite that simple.
At 19 I tended not to sleep with fat women, trans or genderqueer people (fat men were less of a problem for me – go figure). At 27, it's naive to think of that as "just personal taste" and have started to challenge received wisdom about what qualities are sexually desirable. As a result, I've had some fantastic sex (and indeed relationships) with beautiful people I would otherwise not have considered as potential lovers.
It's easy, after the initial "Oh God, what made me like this!?" stage for kinksters to think that because they don't share obviously mainstream tastes, they exist in a social vacuum as far as their desires are concerned. I think it's worth considering the factors that shape them. That's why I remain vaguely insulted by FemSub, for example, even though I can understand why people would want a space where they know they can meet someone of their preference. There's something distasteful in providing a space for what seems to be the most common and acceptable dynamic, the one that's closest to the mainstream, and excluding everyone else. And don't get me started on the advice that there may be play, "should the ladies choose." Consent isn't an issue for men, apparently!
But I digress. It's naive to expect the kink scene to be free of the prejudices the rest of society has: sexism, herteronormativity, racism, the belief that high heels are a good thing. Perhaps I should count myself lucky since I fit my box well; a bisexual submissive woman is a better thing to be, given the prejudices of our little subculture, than, say, a submissive man with a urine fetish. There are women who do better out of conventional beauty standards than I do (I'm never going to be able to do anything about these hips) but I'm on the right side of acceptable, and hairy legs aside, it helps that I'm femme. That's probably why it took me so long to feel uncomfortable with the scene's values. I was doing fine out of them.
A while ago the lover and I were talking about the spanko community I know through blogs and Twitter, but for the most part don't know in real life. He observed that, compared to us, they're 'so straight'. "Some of the women are bi" I said. The men aren't though, or if they are they keep it quiet. The prevalent dynamic is M/f, with (and I say this from the outside, with extremely limited knowledge) a preference for youth among the fs. Presumably they're brought together by a shared taste, but that doesn't stop me feeling sad when I look through what's being shared as hot (Abel's collection of photos, say) or criticised as not (such as this tall spankee) that I'm not getting any younger, skinnier or shorter.*
I've loved the idea of being fresh meat for the predatory older man since before it would have been legal, but just as an idea. Well, I've loved it once or twice as a reality, too, but queasily, and before I discovered kink. Now that I'm here, in this world where fantasy becomes play so easily, I'd like to enjoy being preyed on, in my youth and innocence, by older men who covet it, without the real-life repercussions of feeling I lose value with every passing day, or that my partners like my lack of wrinkles or my naivety more than my experience or knowledge or any of the things that make me me. I'd like a world where spanking models don't have to lie about their ages, and where we don't think we have to keep predatory doms out of the Under 35's Munch.
Is it possible, given that I spent half of last year battling a crush on a beautiful woman in her forties (no luck, she has a younger boyfriend), that I have a bit of a thing for a woman who was old enough to be releasing records in the 1980s (and I know I'm not the only one), and that the kink scene is built on such weird tastes as fancying a woman over thirty, that I could find a kinky space where youth isn't—ahem—fetishized? Or am I being naive?
*Ok, I find it hard to want to be shorter, it must make it difficult to breathe in lifts. And reach high things. I sometimes feel too tall for my kink, though.
How Not to Deal With Harassers
I just threatened a man with violence, then bought Christmas cards. Well, Season's Greetings cards, actually, because they're for the Amnesty Card Campaign and I don't want to offend non-Christians. I don't want to offend anyone, me.
Except this man in a tracksuit on Portland Street in Manchester. I want to do a lot more than offend him. I want to punch him in the face and kick him until he cries. I don't even know his name and I hate him. I'm a more violent person than I knew.
I got up this morning, looked out of the window and wondered if I could bring myself to leave the house. It is one of those days that looks inviting but numbs your fingers and scorches your throat when you go out. I decided to run a couple of errands on the bike and call it exercise. Knowing I would have to put everything in the wash when I got home I put on a pair of lycra trousers which have been chewed at one cuff by my bicycle and a jumper with at least two holes in it. I thought about tidying my hair, but it was only going to be crushed under my helmet. I looked decidedly scratty, but who cares? I was returning library books, and retrieving lost property, not going on the pull.
I got to the cafe where I abandoned possessions yesterday, locked my bike up and the pushed on the doors. It was closed. I harrumphed quietly in frustration and went back to my bike, listening to Linkin Park (yes, Linkin Park, I never pretended to have a sophisticated taste in music) being loud and angry through my earphones. I bent over my bike to coax the lock open. After a few seconds I felt something press—no, poke—against my buttocks. I straightened up, right into the body of a man standing immediately behind me. I jumped, I even made a little, involuntary noise of surprise. Stepping away from the man, I said, at a volume I couldn't judge because my earphones were in, "what are you doing?" I couldn't hear his reply over Linkin Park. I jerked them out of my ears and said, "What?"
"Oh, yeah, I was just going to ask you the time." The man grinned.
I held up my bare wrist, "Sorry, I don't wear a watch." I had a few seconds to reflect on the fact that I had just apologised to the stranger who, I realised with gross clarity, had just been jabbing me with his erect penis, before he grabbed my arm and said,
"The thing is, yeah, my mate's over there," he gestured vaguely up the empty street, "and I was going to get behind you and do this, right?" He spread his arms and legs wide and thrust his hips forward in an obscene motion, then he laughed.
"Next time," I said, "I'll kick you in the balls."
"Yeah," he said, "do that!"
I wheeled my bike around and started to walk away. He grabbed my arm again. I wrenched free. "Don't touch me," I said, and again, louder and shriller as I reached the curb, "don't touch me!"
I cycled aggressively, dangerously, and then shot people dirty looks as I browsed for Christmas cards. I turned the volume up loud and listened to Nickelback on the way home. It didn't help. I feel dirty, angry, and ever so slightly ashamed. I've been a professional peace worker. People have spent real money on my mediation training. I'm a fair way to being a pacifist. All that, and after one touch I'm threatening violence. He wanted a reaction and he got it, which makes me angrier still.
Aiming at Amis
Once a fortnight I resist throwing things at Martin Amis. Usually books, but it depends what else is to hand. I haven't had the guts to knit during sessions with him, but if I did, I'd launch my needles like javelins. Amis isn't evil—he hasn't killed people or spoken at the theatre—he just has a habit of making smug pronouncements that force me to sit on my hands for fear of doing something violent.
Today he announced the end of class and gender discrimination. The only oppressive system left, apparently, focuses on age, so we should concern ourselves with the old. Martin Amis is white, male, and not getting any younger. It doesn't take a lot of imagination to see why his concern lies where it does.
We made some points about education, I pointed out that class affects identity, and pulled some faces. What I didn't do was rant and gesticulate, talk about the disproportionate number of women living in poverty, weep over the woman jailed because her abuser pressured her into retracting her rape claim, or demand to know why he hadn't set a single novel by a female author. It wouldn't have felt appropriate. He's eminent, after all. Most of the eminent people are old, white men.
I've never taken the toffee-hammer approach to feminism. Generally, I think we're like to get further if we don't give everyone a reason to write us off as hysterical madwomen. So I wait my turn and voice my disagreements, if invited, politely. Even if I haven't bothered to shave my legs, I've put on a skirt, hold-ups and some new Chanel foundation that I really couldn't afford. I'm a nice, middle-class girl, after all.
Sometimes I imagine a life in which I wasn't polite. I replay the moment when Martin Amis said that women should stop sleeping with gloomy novelists, because it only encourages them, and visualise myself saying what every woman in the room must have been thinking: that he didn't have a chance with us, and sex with women isn't some sort of rewards system for writers, in fact, some of them are women. I'd go back and tell all the guys who talk about their aggressive driving that they are dicks, and strip off in front of men who harass me on the street. Every time a man made a sexist comment while pretending to seek understanding of women or feminism I would slap his face and walk away.
I know that this isn't how you build understanding or change minds. I realise that people are more likely to forget what you told them than how you made them feel. I have ideals and mediation training and Martin Amis's autobiography. None of that changes this: I want to throw things at Martin Amis. If I'm arrested for assault, will the feminists bail me out?
There's Always A Creepy Man
"There's always one creep," a man said to me last week, before twirling me around and semi-ironically staring at my breasts, "at least one." I have to say that I like this man. He's one of my regular dance partners, a proper Yorkshire man, quiet to the point of gruffness, who teases me over the inordinate quantity of hair with which I occasionally hit men in the face (entirely by accident) as I twirl. I've brought him cake and he's offered to have a whip-round so I can pay for a proper haircut. We get on, but he doesn't understand about the creeps.
I've just about had it with the creeps. I used to have better tolerance levels. I used to be able to think it was a laugh, that it was an odd sort of compliment to receive someone's attention. If I'm entirely honest, I've sometimes been a little disappointed not to have been the object of more creepiness. There are so many books about young, beautiful things catching the eyes of teachers and uncles, throwing them into paroxysms and crises which I would have been flattered to cause.
I didn't have the sun-kissed body, slender legs and shiny hair of the charming teenager of those novels. I didn't even have a white tennis skirt. Instead I had a cloud of frizzy hair and the pale complexion that comes of spending too much time in the library with a dusty volume of Tennyson. So when I did meet my first creepy man, he wasn't of the vintage car and picnic hamper variety, he was a hairy homunculus with an overworked wife and a study full of poetry books. We read each other's poems, he talked about Ruskin, I flirted outrageously and one day at his daughter's sleepover he put my hand on his penis. Suddenly it wasn't fun anymore.
I didn't tell anyone and I did my best to avoid him. It took me years to work out that it wasn't my fault.
That's the problem with creepy men. You're never sure whether you're imagining the creepiness. Afterwards, instead of feeling angry, you feel guilty, and keep it to yourself. You think that to be getting that sort of attention you must be doing something wrong.
Now I wonder, if I had told someone, what would have happened. Would he have been dragged off to prison for molesting underage girls, or would someone have had a quiet word with me about being more careful in future?
I was rather blasé about the creeps after that. Nothing that bad was going to happen, I thought. To my credit, I was right. I managed to wriggle out of the grasp of every creep. Even when my boss pressed several glasses of rice wine on me and sent me home in a taxi alone with a colleague who'd been trying to get into my pants all evening. It somehow culminated in him declaring I was like a daughter to him and putting me on the phone to his very confused wife. All part of a colourful experience, I thought as I plotted a route off-campus which wouldn't take me past his office.
I don't know why I attract the creeps. I don't know why, the last time I was in London, I was asked out by three men between the tube station and my friend's house, or why, the time before, someone followed me to her door. I don't know why it's me who men choose to feel up when we're dancing, or why they think that I will be receptive to their advances as they offer a phone number or a walk home. Are you thinking that these things happen to all women, not just to me? I know that they happen to me significantly more than they do to my friends, I don't know how often they happen to you. More importantly to me, I honestly don't know why they happen. I've been through so many reasons. Am I too friendly, too smiley, too open, too likely to flirt, too sluttily dressed? I've tried changing my behaviour in all sorts of ways, but it keeps on coming. I begin to think that blaming myself is like feeling guilty for having conversations about poetry when I was fourteen. It's wasn't my action, it was his.
In the last couple of weeks I've been trying to find a polite way to tell a man twice my age that I'm really not interested. I've been hiding behind pillars to avoid a man at dancing who stares at me. I don't know if he still does it, as I'm scared of encouraging him by looking his way. Last night a man put my hand on his penis again, this time over his trousers. When you're in the middle of a crowded room, snatching your hand away from someone's crotch, you do begin to ask what's going on.
I still don't think anything terrible is going to happen. Dance halls are not good venues for assault, sexual or otherwise. Overfriendly middle aged men are more lonely than violent. All the same, I can't tell you how much I wish they would stop.
I've tried telling people about the staring man. I'm told that he's reacting to my nice dress, that he thinks I'm attractive. It's been implied that I'm paranoid. It's difficult, apparently, watching women dance. There's always one creep, it's no big deal. Some men find it difficult to interact with women, we should make ourselves clear. The men don't take it seriously; I wonder if they have considered who they are aligning themselves with?
At midnight last night I scanned the room to see if anyone was available for the last dance. An overweight man lumbered towards me, and I thought "if he waddles, rather than walks, how is he going to dance?" Nevertheless, I politely accepted his invitation, on the basis that good manners cost me only the length of a single track. I submitted to being pressed into his sweaty side and having my hips and waist pawed for a couple of minutes, then escaped his clutches. A couple of minutes later he appeared beside me and leered, "are you here alone?" At the same moment I realised I'd lost my keys. I was stranded twenty miles from my locked house, in the middle of the night, with a creepy man who wouldn't leave me be. I tried to shake him by walking to the car park and back, but he waited. I repeatedly told him I'd be fine, but he lurked, and as the crowd cleared I realised I would soon be alone with him. I thought I'd managed to lose him, but he pulled up in a car and told me to get in. I was rescued by a woman half my height and weight, who told him, in no uncertain terms, where to go.*
She made me very, very happy.
I've had enough of creepy men. You should have, too. On a bad day I feel as if I'm living my life under siege. I think if a single one of the men I've mentioned it to understood that, they wouldn't make excuses for the starers, the pinchers, the feelers and the lurkers. They wouldn't want to think of themselves as in the same category. They don't have to do anything inappropriately manly, there's no need for a confrontation, but, men, I could do with a hand. If you see me struggling to get away from another creep, because there's always going to be another one, you could make your presence known. Perhaps you could even whisk me off for a nice, chaste dance. I can't tell you how much I would appreciate it.
*It isn't relevant to creepy men, but you might like to know that my rescuer and her friend, both good friends of my father, calmed me down, drove me home, offered to climb up ladders and through windows, but didn't have to because I had neglected to lock the back door. United with my spare set of car keys, I was driven back to my car and not left alone until they'd checked I was happy, safe and sufficiently fuelled. Some people are just amazing.
The Sexism of 'Jive Magazine', and Why I Care
I have been conscious, ever since I wrote Can Feminists Jive?, that I may have been a little unfair to 'Jive Magazine'. Was I looking so hard for sexism that I would have found it in 'A Vindication of the Rights of Women', let alone some poor monthly publication for a handful of jive enthusiasts? So I decided to approach the new edition with an open mind. Not open enough to pay for a copy, but enough to flick through my father's and see if it was actually as infuriatingly sexist as I remember.
It made a good start with this cover photo. Yes, there's a young, blonde woman in a sexy pose, but then there's also a hot man with attractive stubble and a sleeveless shirt to reveal his muscular arms in the sexy pose with her. Even-handed objectification, that's what I like to see.
Unfortunately, inside the magazine objectification seems to be centred on women again. I recognise that women tend to be more scantily clad than men while dancing, but you've got to go out of your way to find anyone in fishnets and bunny ears or a PVC French maid's outfit. They managed it, along with photos of women reading the magazine while wearing bikinis (there's an odd aura of 'readers' wives' around that one). I'm all for dancing, and for porn, but if you're going to sell dancing porn, can't I have pics of half-naked men, too?
Among articles on famous dancers, choreography, competitions, shoes and two pages of dance-related horoscopes, there one piece promised to tell me how to avoid sitting out dances. With diagrams. I had high hopes.
I hate sitting out. I hate it when I've sat out one track, and, re-screwed my water bottle hopefully at its end, to look up and see that no one has even made it back from the dance floor, but merely grabbed the nearest person and begun again. On a bad day, it makes me feel like an inadequate dancer, ugly, unattractive and lacking in charm. On a good day, I recognise its origins in the gendered partner system and surplus of women.
The 'Dance Doctor' promises to solve my problem, claiming, "this by the way isn't sex bias, but as most clubs seems to be 60/40 female to male, it's more important the girls give themselves every advantage to nab that bloke!" Actually, 'Dance Doctor', it's not. I'm not trying to nab anyone, I merely want to dance. If the male: female ratio means that I have to sit out a couple of dances, I'm not going to scheme and connive to do other women (there aren't usually any girls there) out of their share.
He not only assumes a level of competitiveness I've never witnessed (for a job, yes, but a two minute dance? No), but has very complex behavioural codes for women. Are you sitting in the wrong place, shyly awaiting a man's attention? It's your own fault if you never get picked. Or do you stand between the bar and the dance floor, and actually ask men if they would like to dance? Then you're a "vulture," and the men are your "pray[sic]." Does this remind you of something? Yes, you're right, it's the virgin/whore dichotomy! If you aren't getting men, you ought to be trying harder, and if you are, you must be aggressive, devouring men and sadistically keeping them from water and rest. How dare you? Fortunately, there is a demure way to get a dance. The Doctor says "offer the hand, or those puppy dog eyes, maybe even mouth those words; 'Would you like to dance[?]'" Do everything you can to avoid actually asking. Plead with your eyes, sneak up on the question and maybe, voicelessly, half-ask. Otherwise you're a vulture.
I think the article has done me good. No more am I going to sit, silently, on the sidelines, passively waiting for a man to seek me out. Do I want to be the sort of woman who makes puppy dog eyes at a man? Do I think men are objects to be competed over or 'nabbed' like the largest cookie? Certainly not. So from now on, I'm asking them straight out.
Another article, by "Bev the Dance Diva" displays just as much sexism (there's no gender discrimination about who can write sexist articles for this magazine!). She seems to have made the simple mistake of confusing dancing and sex. There are obviously points where they blur into each other. However, if you saw some of the men I dance with, I'm sure you'd agree that sex is the last thing on my mind, and I'm quite comfortable with the fact that many men would consider me with the same indifference. I choose my sexual partners with much more care than my dance partners. Doesn't she?
Criticising a man's dancing "is equal to passing judgement on his sexual performance," apparently. I agree that it's rather impolite. All the same, I now know who to blame for all those men who think they give great oral sex because their ex-girlfriends never complained. In a rare moment of self-reflection, she writes "Sounds like I am some sort of dance floor prostitute, out there to service the male dancer or worse a 1950's housewife pandering to her chauvinist husband's ego." Yes, dear, it does. Instead of considering why she feels the need to seduce every man she comes across, though, she explains her method: "My mother told me that men want women to be the epitome of vestal virgins one minute and harlots the next. I might dance as if I am just that." She goes on to explain that she achieves this by intermittently wiggling her hips. Good to know.
By the end of the article, she's got to the nub of her obsession. "For men, is a good dance with a pretty girl always a precursor to thinking about having sex with her? A large cross section of my male dancer friends tell me that if the girl is good looking then yes." Breaking: men like sex with women they fancy. There's more, but this is sapping my will to type.
Why do I care? I love to dance. I already have to overcome the challenges of the gendered roles, sexist teachers and men with wandering hands. There are a significant number of men who seem to think that I make my body public property by stepping onto the dance floor. They make comments about my looks, touch me without asking, use me as a demonstration model and sometimes put their sweaty bodies far too close to mine. They are a minority, and I'd like them to stay that way. What I don't need is Bev the 'Dance Diva' telling them that I'm looking for a quasi-sexual experience, with romance and danger, or that I'm trying to seduce them with every move of my hips. Nor do I need the 'Dance Doctor' telling them that I've scrambled over the bruised bodies of several more feminine women with puppy dog eyes in my desperation to drag them to the floor. To do this, we'll have to recognise dancing for what it is: a leisure activity, out of which can come many things, including sex, love, sparkly shoes and once, in my case, the chance to have my neck immortalised in a statue of Aphrodite. If you're looking for that, though, you'd best begin by offering yourself as an artist's model, and by the same token, dancing hardly guarantees sex. Even if people do turn up to jive events trying to pull, the ones who fork out £2.40 for 'Jive Magazine' are, I would wager, the ones who are serious about dancing. Almost embarrassingly so, when you see the adverts for dancing holidays and strangely named 'Weekenders'.
'Jive Magazine' caters to dance enthusiasts. One day, will we be able to talk about jive without resorting to crude stereotypes of the women who do it? By the magazine's own claims, more women are interested than men. Who does it pay to insult them?
Sex Work and the Feminist Frenzy
I began a post on sex work recently. I thought it was rather good. Then a man was charged with murdering three women who sold sex on the streets of Bradford. Suddenly, everyone was talking about prostitutes. The Prime Minister was saying that we should reconsider legalising prostitution in response to the murders. On Radio 4's 'Any Questions' the members of the panel spoke about the right of consenting adults to do as they will. All of the fallacies I find in my reading about sex work became relevant to an horrific situation. Yes, they were selling sex. More relevantly, they were walking through dangerous parts of Bradford, alone, to undertake work which carries high risks of violence, and they were doing it for £20-£30 a time. I have no doubt that prostitution can be a free choice. These particular sex workers, though, can only have acted from desperation.
From what I can tell, there are two camps of people throwing stones at each other, one claiming that sex work is empowering and fun, calling the other side prudes, and another claiming that sex workers are exploited, and calling the other side naive. It all feels like a fabricated argument to me.
Let's clear one thing up. No one ever has a 'free' choice. We don't live in a cultural vacuum. When I get dressed today my choice is constrained by cultural expectations of my gender, by what I can afford, by the weather and what is in the laundry basket. Most of us can agree that the cultural expectations which forced women into corsets restricted our freedom. The norms which mean we can't walk around naked have gained general acceptance, however. Somewhere in the middle, mixed in with high heels and push up bras, is the line between freedom and coercion. Let me know if you can pin down exactly where it is.
In sex work we can see examples of more, and less free choices. Pandora Blake sounds like she has a great time making her spanking porn. Every now and again I come across blogs by escorts living in central London, screening their clients carefully and charging £200 an hour. I read books like 'Whores and Other Feminists' full of essays by workers in collectively run San Franscio strip clubs. They, like accountants, lecturers, salesmen and shop assistants may or may not be happy, but their career choices are hardly likely to keep me awake at night. The women who are walking dangerous streets because they need money to feed drug addictions aren't in the same category. The women sold into sexual slavery aren't in the same category. They aren't free.
I support the law which makes it illegal to have sex with a pimped or trafficked woman. I don't understand how men can participate in the torture of women, through repeated rape, and reward its organisers. However, I know that men do, and that while clients are often aware that they are paying for sex with a coerced woman, very few will even go so far as to report it to the police. Is the law going to be difficult to enforce? Yes. That's no reason not to legislate, though. Murders still happen, and we're all agreed on that law. In fact, if no one was going to try to break it, there wouldn't be much point in criminalising it, would there?
There are sex workers who need help, the addicts, the prisoners, the children. The rest of them, I'm sure, have good days and bad, they make their choices and take their cash. So I should just leave them to it, right? And yet, I am a little uncomfortable about it. When I hear the stories of women selling their bodies—bodies like mine—for £20, I'm insulted by the low price. I have this fantastic body, people tell me they desire it all the time, and you're selling one just like it for £20?! On the other hand, the stories of women making £200 an hour distress me because people told me that getting straight As, a degree from a good university and an MA from another one would mean that I could get a great job. Well, I'm currently waiting to see if I will be taken on as a temp, but I could make more money than I ever have by selling what every woman has. I object to the fact that so much value is placed in my body, what I am, rather than what I do and who I have become.
Yes, I'm fickle.
I can understand the power and the freedom in choosing to take money for what so many inadequate boyfriends thought they should get for free. Just because I'm a woman, I'm expected to invest a huge amount of time, effort and cash in my appearance. Through sex work I can turn it to profit. I can refuse to conform to society's model for a good woman, a model which I've found constrictive, insulting and puritanical. I can play the system, and a woman will come out on top for once. I read 'King Kong Theory' and cheered.
On the other hand, given how much effort I put into altering society's perception of women, it is annoying to see someone else undoing all my good work, and profiting from it. I try to convince men that I'm more than a sexual object. I spent last Thursday night patiently explaining to an ignorant man that women like sex, too. I'm constantly trying to convince people, through my selfless example, that a woman can be non-monogamous and bisexual without being some sort of hyper-sexualised slut born of their fantasies. Then sex workers come along and play into all the stereotypes because they can profit personally. You think the way you do it can change minds? Look at the perception of prostitutes in this paper.
Sex workers aren't the only ones doing it. Hell, we all do it, one way or another. Even my butch ex-girlfriend used to flirt with women to get me discounts in dress shops. I put on my red dress and make up when I go dancing, because I think that looking nice will induce more men to dance with me, making for a better night out. Am I pulling together with the sisterhood for the common good? The frumpy middle aged women probably don't think so, but I don't care.
Recognising that few feminists can honestly say we've never played into objectification for goods, services or self-esteem, perhaps we could stop hounding the sex workers for being the most visible practitioners of it. And perhaps those who are shouting so loudly about the lack of respect feminists show to sex workers could recognise that they are not puritans, but women trying to do what they think is right for themselves and others, including those in actual need of intervention to prevent exploitation. Best of all, we could stop throwing things at each other. Not because we ultimately agree—I'm quite sure we don't—but because the squabbling doesn't appear to be helping anyone. Perhaps we could all just shut up about it, and blog about important things instead.


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May 2019
My husband and I worked with the Sazama Real Estate team to buy our first home and we had a wonderful experience! Ken and Lisa have been extremely helpful, responsive, patient, caring and friendly. They were always available and willing to answer all our questions in depth. Even during big snowstorms, Lisa was happy to drive us to open houses. Their team made every step of the process go incredibly smoothly and efficiently, which we appreciated a lot as first-time home buyers who were simultaneously planning a wedding. We found the type of home we were looking for, and we couldn't have had a better team to work with! We highly recommend the Sazama group, they are truly terrificAgostina S.

subset: commoncrawl


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Sometimes, i wake up during my sleep.
To help me to go back into sleep, i look around the web
for inspiring design, graphism and photogaphies.
I like to keep them in a computer file.
Maybe they will help me to find ideas.
Tonight, i look for photos around flickr and blogs.
Au carrefour de l'étrange, a book covers blog and a Art blog
( where i found the exellent New Wave band :
James Chance and The Contortions live video;
Agence Eureka is uploading vintage book covers, papers,
children designs and magazines on her Flickr.
James Chance and The Contortions "I Can't Stand Myself"


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- Polyethylene mixing bottle for the preparation of accurate fuel/oil mixtures
- Easy-pour spout and separate filling points for petrol and oil
- Clear graduation marks for ratios 50:1, 40:1, 30:1, 25:1 and 20:1
- For use with tools with 2-stroke petrol engines such as chainsaws, lawn mowers, line strimmers etc.
Markings for ratios 50:1, 35:1, 30:1 and 25:1
…. Read More ….
Buy with confidence from Amazon
Disclaimer: This website is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com or amazon.co.uk. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.


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If you find yourself on the defensive in a breach of contract claim, you need to raise as many defenses as possible. These defenses are called "affirmative defenses", which means that it is up to you prove your defense. It isn't really enough to just deny that you made the breach at all, which is why an affirmative defense follows the old adage that "the best defense is a good offense." The best way to defend against a breach of contract claim is to prove that there was a flaw in the contract. There are a variety of "flaws" that may be the basis of your defense. Some examples of commonly used defenses in these cases are as follows:
- The contract wasn't in writing – If the contract in question was an oral contract, you may be able to prove its illegitimacy.
- There was a mistake – If there was a mistake made by both you and the plaintiff, you can argue that the mistake makes the contract void.
- You lack capacity to enter into the agreement – This defense is best for minors and people with mental disabilities. It means you weren't able to comprehend exactly what you were doing.
- The contract is unfair – The contract can be voided if it is heavily in favor of one party and unfair to the other.
- The contract was illegal – If any aspect of the deal is illegal then the whole contract may be thrown out, along with the breach claim against you.
- Estoppel – This defense argues that the plaintiff made a statement that contradicted the contract and you relied on that statement.
Garland & Mason, L.L.C. – New Jersey business lawyers


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Racing consistently well in the Championship, Jonathan and Lisa GORING'S J109 Jeronimo were also awarded the Jackdaw Trophy at the overall prizegiving ceremony held after racing in Cowes Yacht Haven.
It was another exciting and challenging day out on the water with racing taking place in the Western Solent when predicted winds of around 250deg along with heavy showers came true. The first race of the day got underway in a strong easterly tide with a 10knot breeze and a number of moveable marks were laid to get the racing off to a good start. With about 25-30deg of port end bias, the boats were tempted down to the far end of the line and were evenly distributed.
However, around midday a vicious squall came through bringing rain and winds gusting to over 30knots, causing some problems out on the race course. By the last race of the day, the tide had turned and several more squalls came through causing Panther, the Mumm36 in IRC1 to lose her mast on the last downwind leg of the course. She broached into Passion who carried her forestay away as they parted. She was assisted by the Venturers Rescue Service and another boat went to help recover the mast. A medical emergency also occurred on board Leo Lady in IRC3 after an crew member suffered an eye injury caused by a shackle and they were aided by the Hamble Lifeboat.
In the first race for IRC0 Yes! was over the line at the start but rapidly dipped back and did not suffer a penalty with Flag 'P' flying. The remainder of the class got away without incident and I-Site managed a first place ahead of Bear of Britain and El Gringo after a good race, however the wind was then beginning to swing right causing some bias on the line.
Racing in IRC1, Magnum started close to the ODM taking a fourth place in the race although the majority of boats in the same class favoured the committee boat end despite their being a 15deg bias on the line to encourage boats out into the tide. Tundra led their class in this race closely followed by Tarka, Exabyte 2 and Magnum II.
The smaller boats in the fleet in IRC2 and IRC3 bunched up at the committee boat end of the line to keep out of the fast running tide and most boats short tacked up the mainland shore to keep out of the tide. Jeronimo led the fleet in IRC2 followed by Voodoo Chile and Civils with Flair but and it was Software Mistress who had a good start in IRC3 taking a 3rd position. However, Whooper continued to consolidate her lead and stay ahead of Exile.
A thunder storm and heavy squalls in the last half of the race with heavy rain and winds up to 31knots caused a number of boats to experience difficulty in the challenging conditions.
For the last race in the Championship, the tide had turned and the first boats set off in a gentle leeward going tide. In IRC0 El Gringo seemed late to the line but went on to take a good start as they hoisted their genoa whilst crossing the start line although only managed a 9th position with Minx taking the lead followed by Bear, I-Site and Exabyte III.
The squall came through for IRC1 and there were two boats over the line - Salvo and Shockwave. However, they both make a rapid return to the start and incurred a 20% penalty. Exabyte 2 finished in 1st place with close racing between Bare Knuckles, Tundra and Magnum II.
In IRC2 there was a general recall due to the majority of the fleet misjudging the fast turning tide and thus going over the line at the start. A 'Z' flag was flown giving a 20% penalty and all but four boats were penalised. The class re-started again at the end of the sequence and a Black flag was hoisted giving a clear start. Quokka led their class in this race with Capitali$m in 2nd place and a 3rd for Voodoo Chile followed by Jeronimo.
With the wind still swinging both ways, it was decided to move the line for the remainder of the classes and IRC3 completed the final race in extremely squally conditions finishing in 25knots of wind which was enough to cause several incident and boats to struggle with their spinnakers. White Mischief took a lead in the final race over Great Scot II and Whooper in third place but it was Whooper, Giovanni Belgrano's Laurent Giles design who took 1st place in class at the end of the Championship, with White Mischief in 2nd and Exile 3rd overall.
After a great regatta and three days of highly competitive racing for all the fleet, the RYA selectors for the GBR team for the forthcoming Rolex Commodores' Cup had seen the hopeful teams perform in a variety of conditions which should help make their final decision in the next few days.It was also a good opportunity for the Irish team to compete against their potential GBR competitors.
Full results are available on the RORC website at the address below.
World Sailing Newsletter
World Sailing Newsletter is the weekly online newsletter of World Sailing.
It features the latest news and events from the sailing world together with features and info in an easy-to-use format.
It features the latest news and events from the sailing world together with features and info in an easy-to-use format.


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A ball of hand-dyed burgundy yarn sat in a ball on my bedroom shelf, waiting for inspiration to turn it into a pair of socks. The yarn was special, and I knew it had to be just the right pattern. An original pattern. I tried to sketch out some ideas, but none were good enough.
At the time, I was reading the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer. The gothic nature of this yarn seemed more apparent to me after reading these books. I started thinking about the yarn turning into something with a little lace and a pinch of sex appeal.Then I realized, this yarn wasn't meant for socks at all, but for gloves. Lacy, feminine, sexy gloves. Rosalie was born, inspired by a character in the series.
As the pattern unveiled itself, I realized that a less gothic version would be beautiful as well. This pattern in cream or white would be ideal for a winter wedding. The same pattern in black with bright colored ribbon would be great for a teen or young adult. Change out the ribbon to suit your mood. Give the gloves only partial fingers or no fingers at all. You can even just knit the ruffle and cuff, turn them upside down, and use them as ruffled wrist-warmers. This pattern offers many possibilities.


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Luke and I ended the month of February with our first big trip, just us, since either of our girls were born. It was much needed and so, so special. We were grateful for the opportunity to take a trip like this and are hoping to make it an annual tradition. We're not big gift-givers to each other throughout the year, so this trip was pretty much a culmination of celebrations for us, and, in my opinion, SO much better than getting stuff. I'd rather make a memory any day of the week!
We visited Charleston — a first for Luke and my second trip. We decided to not "plan" too much and to just let our day dictate our plans. It was definitely the best decision for us. We chose THE BEST hotel, Kings Courtyard Inn . It's located right on King Street and accessible to basically everything downtown. Once we parked the van on Thursday, we didn't move it until check-out on Sunday, which saved us so much time and hassle. We would not hesitate to stay here again in the future, although we would probably not take our kids there. It was a little too fancy for kiddos, in my opinion.
We started our trip by visiting Middleton Place and loved getting so much leisure time there. Most of the time, we just walked around the grounds, which you can totally get lost on. We also took a house tour, which my history-buff husband really enjoyed! All in all, it was a wonderful way to begin our trip, even if it is a little pricey.
That evening, we had dinner at Poogan's Porch, a favorite from my last visit. We really enjoyed our dinner and totally splurged! In fact, we had no idea that we were visiting on a special week when the entire menu was 40% off! — so we went overboard in the best way!
The next day we visited the City Market, the Exchange and Provost, the Confederate Museum, and took a carriage ride. This day was pretty packed but so fun!! We ate brunch at Toast and had dinner at Fulton Five. I cannot recommend Fulton Five enough. It was, by far, the most delicious meal we had on our trip. We stumbled across it our first night in town, since it was practically right across the street from our hotel. I called the next day to make a reservation, and they were packed. The only dining times available were either really early or really late. We chose to eat late and were totally blown away. This fourteen-table restaurant was completely packed and for good reason. We didn't go to Charleston to eat Italian, but this was seriously the most delicious place ever. Best food. Best service. Hands down.
Our brunch from Toast
Since we packed so much into our first two days, we decided to make our last day a bit more leisurely. We did a lot more strolling this day. Lots of coffee shops. Lots of meandering. It was perfect. We did, however, take one house tour. We visited the Edmonton-Alston House, which was right along the Battery. The history of this home is tied with Middleton Place, which we visited the first day, so it was neat to connect all the families.
On our last morning, we headed outside downtown to eat brunch at The Early Bird Diner. It was our best breakfast of the trip. So decadent and a great, low-key way to end the trip!
We're already planning out our next kiddo-free trip for next year! We missed our girls so, so much and talked about them the whole time we were gone. Truth is, though, we wouldn't have been able to do half of what we did if they had tagged along. Plus, the sweet time we spent chatting and holding hands and just living slowly was so precious. We are choosing to pour our hearts into our marriage, out of an abundance of love for our girls. We love them so much that we can't not invest in our marriage. If you hadn't traveled kid-free with your spouse lately, I can't recommend it enough!!


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Sunday, 5 January 2014
Saturday, 19 October 2013
Souvenir (3)
Posted by Unknown at 10:30 1 comments
Thursday, 17 October 2013
Souvenir (2)
Posted by Unknown at 14:30 0 comments
Wednesday, 16 October 2013
Sunday market in Vieux Lille
Posted by Unknown at 12:00 1 comments
Tuesday, 15 October 2013
Souvenir (1)
Posted by Unknown at 10:30 0 comments
Monday, 14 October 2013
d'une ville l'autre / z miasta w miasto
This year I've been invited to take part in exchange project between Wroclaw and Lille. I've spend a week in May in Lille which become an inspiration for the work that was featured in the book and just recently exhibit in Lille. Here some sneak peak of work I did for the book and few snaps form the show and preparation. Make sure to visit Knaplfa's blog an illustrator who visit Wroclaw and Nuit Myrtide Edition Independante a publisher who has started the project and made it happen.
Posted by Unknown at 13:00 0 comments
Labels: exhibition, illustration, Lille, traveling, Wroclaw
Sunday, 13 October 2013
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Fort Smith police on Friday continued to investigate the suspicious death of a former Fort Smith Public Schools substitute teacher following an arrest in connection with the incident.
The body of William J. Dubois Jr., 72, who reportedly taught in the school district for three decades, was discovered during a welfare check around 4:30 p.m. Thursday inside a duplex in the 1800 block of South Greenwood Avenue. Detectives have determined Dubois' death was not due to natural or self-inflicted injuries and arrested one suspect who was not identified Friday in connection to the case.
Police on Friday afternoon were "having to follow a number of leads" in relation to the incident, said police spokesperson Aric Mitchell. Mitchell on Friday did not say whether detectives have determined if Dubois' death was a homicide.
Mitchell did not disclose the arrestee's suspected charges or relationship to Dubois on Friday. He also did not disclose the circumstances leading up to Dubois' death or how police found the suspect, adding that giving out such information could intrude on detectives' investigation.
Police on Thursday afternoon taped off the yard of the duplex with crime scene tape as detectives walked in and out of the house. Officers and detectives were still on scene at 11:00 p.m. Thursday.
Dubois taught at Fort Smith Public Schools from 1973-2003 as a substitute teacher and worked part-time in the athletic department, said Fort Smith Public Schools Executive Director of Communications Director Zena Featherston Marshall. Marshall said Dubois taught at Northside High School while she attended school there.
"It's a sad day," Marshall said of Dubois' death.
Mitchell on Friday could not estimate when he would be allowed to release more information to the public, but anticipated the situation would "make a lot more sense in a day or two."


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It was the first time C&IT had opened up the judging process to its readers, with more than 400 event professionals naming their favourite short-haul and mid- to long-haul destinations in the build up to the C&IT Awards. Voting continued through the evening and London and Dubai were eventually crowned the winners of their respective categories.
The ever-developing Emirate destination continues to win over event planners thanks to its impressive C&I infrastructure, a plethora of high-end hotels and a range of options to suit conference and incentive groups large or small.
One voter commented: "Dubai has so much to offer and it is still an exciting destination to discover," while another said the year-round sunshine, good value for money and a full range of hotels and services makes Dubai the best long-haul destination.
Maris Kuklis, senior manager, UK & Europe, Dubai Business Events, told C&IT: "Dubai Business Events is delighted that Dubai won the Conference & Incentive Travel magazine's Best Mid- to Long-Haul Events Destination.
"We were up against many world-class destinations and feel tremendously honoured to be recognised by top meeting and event planners across UK and Europe for Dubai's remarkable destination qualities.
"Dubai is growing in popularity for meetings, conferences and incentives and the award is testament to the commitment and professionalism that is demonstrated every day by our business events industry partners."
It has been a busy last twelve months in the Emirate destination, with a glut of exciting new openings, including the 328-room InterContinental Dubai Marina and the 137-metre-high Pullman Dubai Jumeriah Lakes Towers.
There is even more excitement on the way with Marriott International, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Jumeirah Group and Langham Hotels & Resorts all bringing new properties to Dubai over the course of the next few years.
Accessibility is also improving. In April, Emirates doubled its service from Dubai to London Gatwick due to growing demand and added a third flight from Birmingham in August.
Earlier in the year, Dubai Tourism released figures detailing a rise in popularity amongst business travellers, while the International Congress and Convention Associations' (ICCA) annual rankings saw Dubai climb from 63rd place to 44th in 2014.
Dubai's development has raced ahead at 100mph and while the Emirate is starting to see clear return on investment, it is showing no signs of slowing down.
Dubai sees popularity rise with business travellers
Madinat Jumeirah Dubai to open largest hotel event space in UAE
Starwood to open four new Dubai hotels
• For more in-depth features, as well as case studies and breaking news, sign up to C&IT Magazine's daily Newstracker here
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Contactless collection now available from Penrith 9am-2pm Weekdays & 9am-12pm Saturday. Saturday collection is available for orders placed before 12pm Friday. Please wait for notification that your order is ready before visiting. CONTACTLESS COLLECTION ONLY. Store is closed on Monday 8/6/20. *Delays may occur for International Shipping, due to overseas restrictions*
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Just in: scores feared dead in tanker explosion
Tragedy struck on Friday as many people were feared killed in a petrol tanker explosion along the Calabar-Odukpani Highway in Odukpani local government area of Cross River State .
The incident occurred at a bend close to the Odukpani local government secretariat.
It was gathered that the petrol tanker fell while trying to negotiate the bend with residents rushing to the scene to scoop petrol.
Eyewitnesses reported the clamor for petrol resulted into a spark as some of the residents used metal containers to scoop the product.
This led to an explosion which killed several people at once.
At the scene, the police tried to contain the situation as the fire raged.
Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Irene Ugbo, could not confirm the number of fatalities as at press time.


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"Today we rule Germany, tomorrow, the world." – Adolf Hitler
Historic Home Guard Information
'C' Company, WR28th Battalion, Home Guard was based in Haworth, West Yorkshire from 1940 through to the Stand Down of the Home Guard in Britain in November 1944. The Company Headquarters was at the Old White Lion Hotel, Main Street, Haworth. By coincidence the Hotel is where our present Living History Group has its regular meetings on the third Wednesday of every month. It is our Command Post too.
The Home Guard in the Second World War was composed of men who would have had regular jobs, but who were too old or young for military service. They turned out after work and at weekends, for training, or drill, and to stand guard over establishments and infrastructure which was vital to the country in pursuit of the War.
As happened throughout Britain, this might include guarding railways, industrial undertakings, highways, power stations and gas-works, and in the case of those H.G. based in Haworth the water supplies situated in the high Pennines.
Our Home Guard women played an important role too. As well as wives supporting the men who were doing their hours of duty, the women joined as Home Guard Women Auxiliaries. Our strong cadre of women members pays tribute to the efforts of these women. Our unit has adopted the precedent set by the women of 11th Battalion, Denbighshire Home Guard – the Battalion entirely composed of Ministry of Food personnel. Our Auxiliaries wear the unique and distinctive uniform adopted by the 'MOFs' and turn out at events in full support of the men, as indeed they did during the Second World War.


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Comedian Marty Allen dies in Las Vegas at 95
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Marty Allen, the baby-faced, bug-eyed comedian with wild black hair who was a staple of TV variety shows, game shows and talk shows for decades, died Monday night. He was 95.
Allen died in Las Vegas of complications from pneumonia with his wife and performing partner of the last three decades Karon Kate Blackwell by his side, Allen's spokeswoman Candi Cazau told The Associated press.
Allen, known for his greeting and catchphrase "hello dere," was a living link late in life to a generation of long-dead superstars with whom he shared a stage, including Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Lena Horne and Elvis Presley
He first found fame as half of the duo Allen & Rossi with partner Steve Rossi, who died in 2014. Allen & Rossi appeared 44 times on "The Ed Sullivan Show," including the episodes where the Beatles performed and most of America watched.
"Everyone remembers those shows with The Beatles, and they were great, but we appeared on all the shows," Allen said in 2014. "There wasn't a talk show on TV that didn't want Allen & Rossi."
The duo appeared regularly on "The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson" and "The Merv Griffin Show." They also toured comedy clubs nationwide, headlined shows at major Las Vegas casinos and released a series of hit albums until their amicable breakup in 1968.
Allen then took on a series of serious roles on daytime television and made-for-TV movies, and was a regular on "The Hollywood Squares" and other celebrity-themed game shows.
Allen was born in Pittsburgh and served in Italy in the Army Air Corps in World War II, earning a Soldier's medal for valor.
He was married to Lorraine 'Frenchy' Allen from 1960 until she died in 1976.
Then in 1984 he married Blackwell, a singer-songwriter who became his performing partner in his last decades and acted as the goofy Allen's "straight man" just as Rossi did half a century earlier.
He kept making crowds laugh into his mid-90s.
"It's unbelievable to be 94 years old," Marty Allen told a New York audience in 2016. "My wife says, 'What do you want for your birthday?' I told her, 'An antique.' So she framed my birth certificate."


text: FARGO, N.D. (AP) - A second week of dry weather is helping North Dakota farmers catch up on the delayed late-season harvest. The Agriculture Department says in its latest crop and weather report that the sunflower harvest is now about one-fourth done and the corn harvest about half complete. Both still lag behind the average pace, however. The flaxseed, soybean and dry edible bean harvests also are behind average, but they are now at least 90 percent compete. North Dakota ranchers have been busy weaning and selling calves, moving livestock to harvested corn fields to graze and hauling hay to winter feeding areas.


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I heard through the Internet-vine that Oprah had a real, present-day, stripper mom on her show today. She's 41, single, and has three kids. And she's a stripper. Now. Today. In her present life.
Pretty amazing. Makes me think about a lot of things.
I couldn't imagine being a stripper today at 36. Although I do have to admit, if I was doing it with today's brainpower, I'd be making a lot more money than I did back when I was a teenager. I had no idea how to be a saleswoman then. At least now I would know what to do to make good tips. And by that I don't mean doing more than I would want to. I just mean that I would know how to relax and enjoy myself more. I wouldn't be so wrapped up in whether I was the "perfect" stripper.
But, of course, when I was a stripper, I was not a mother. These two aspects of my life have been mutually exclusive. Although I knew a lot of strippers who had children. I even remember mothers having to bring their kids with them to work sometimes if the babysitter cancelled.
I remember one time; a little boy of maybe seven sat in the dressing room for my entire shift. He did his homework. Ate supper. And went to sleep on his mother's coat. He didn't seem to pay much mind to the half-naked women walking around him. I wonder how it affected him.
Stripper mom. Teacher mom. Writer mom. Yoga mom.
Will everything I do forever now be followed by "mom"? Once a stripper. Always a mom.


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I usually only say this in the privacy of my own home to my girlfriend who has sworn to love me regardless of my glaring flaws, or when I'm half-drunk to a few trusted friends, but I feel like it's finally time to declare it out loud for the whole world to hear: I like Defiance way more than I ever liked Battlestar Galactica. And I will be bereft if Syfy decides to forgo a third season so it can throw its money at more Sharknado stuff. The show has never been better that it was for the last two episodes of season two.
It goes like this:
Nolan spends a full hour dragging Tommy, whom Irisa shot right in the chest, back to Defiance. You know Tommy's a goner because he keeps flashing back to these golden moments with Irisa when he was proposing marriage and she was proposing he stop being such a sentimental sap and take off his pants. Also, Nolan finally begrudgingly admits that Tommy is not a kid, that he's just a really good dude with a really good heart in a really fucked up incarnation of earth. When Tommy finally dies, Nolan loses it. And so does Berlin when Nolan finally arrives at the stasis net with Tommy's body in tow. (Berlin just crushes it in these final episodes. We have to keep her.)
Across town, Pottinger cooks Amanda a fancy dinner and then takes her out into the woods for a surprise, which is: Stahma and Datak tied up at the bottom of a silo. Pottinger says they're the ones who killed Kenya and so how romantic is it that he's brought Amanda here to exact her revenge on them. He hands her a gun and gaily skips back out into the forest to wait on her. This clown is more psychotic than all the Tarrs combined.
Ah, but gods bless the Tarrs. They start off the episode in bed, post-canoodle. Stahma tells Datak she's happy to invite him back home as long as she can still run the business, bathe by herself, be the bossest ass bitch you ever even heard of. Datak refuses, of course, because when has the patriarchy ever willingly agreed to give up power. Next thing you know, they're tied together in the Silo, shouting delightfully about their various offenses against one another. But those crazy kids really do love each other. (In a Frank and Claire Underwood kind of way. If Frank and Claire Underwood were suddenly drugged with some kind of amphetamine that made them have more feelings than a lesbian bee-farming commune in Vermont.)
When Amanda is circling them with a gun, Datak pleads with her to take his life because it was on his orders that Stahma killed Kenya. And, for her part, Stahma confesses that she actually really did love Kenya. That it was more than just an affair. Datak's face when she says that. He seriously had no idea. (Prick.) But Amanda does worse than killing them; she tells Stahma that Kenya's gift was knowing what people wanted and needed to hear, that she never, ever, ever loved Stahma back. She saves them because she doesn't want to give into her Hunger Games instincts, and also because it would cause a crime lord vacuum in Defiance if they left, but to protest Pottingers batshit insane romantic gesture, she walks back to town in like some nine-inch heels.
To celebrate their reconciliation and the fact that they're still alive, Stahma and Datak obviously murder their inner circle.
Way down under Defiance, Doc Yewll is still on the run with her dead wife's imaginary ghost. It is amazing. Doc Yewll is so amazing. She fights with Liv about this and that and whatever thing. The food is contaminated with shrill. Liv cheats at cards. One thing they can both agree on is Meh looks awesome in her fur hat. They are forced to go hiking underground to try to find more food, and they ultimately find themselves face-to-face with the Kaziri. The ship hijacks Yewll's hallucination of her wife, so Liv pleads with Meh to just hop into one of the Kaziri capsules and let her rain down her reckoning on earth and then she'll bring Liv back to life. Yewll is in charge of her own damn imaginary manifestations, thank you very much, so she pulls out her ego implant — which kills her wife's ghost — and hops back above ground to try to save the world.
The world, by the way, is getting blown the heck up by Irisa. She's sitting on a hilltop playing with levitated stones, tapping them and sending them zooming toward this (also levitated) rock, which is causing spaceships in the earth's orbit to unleash some intergalactic WMDs and propel them toward earth. First stop: New York. Irisa for real wipes it out. Destroys everything with purple lasers and plasma bombs. The music is angels. It's a fantastic sequence of destruction.


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David Casagrande awarded research prize
Dr. David Casagrande, Associate Professor of Anthropology, has received the 2015 Robert C. and Virginia L. Williamson Award for Social Research, which recognizes the best published research in the social sciences in Lehigh University's College of Arts and Sciences. He shares the award with Professor Gordon Moskowitz of the Department of Psychology. The paper David co-authored with Charles Peters, entitled "Ecomyopia Meets the Longue Durée: An Information Ecology of the Increasingly Arid Southwestern United States," was published in the Routledge edited volume Environmental Anthropology: Future Directions in 2013.
Bravo, David!
At right: Professor Emeritus Robert Williamson flanked by 2015 Williamson Prize winners Gordon Moskowitz (L) and David Casagrande (R), taken at Lehigh's 2015 annual awards banquet.


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Hey everyone, I have been told that on other online games they track you by your hardware ID in your registry, maybe PP does the same, to be safe when you untaint next time follow these steps! You can also change your Volume ID which you can find in other tutorials.
Go to RUN and type REGEDIT
When you get to the final step, right click HWProfileGuid and change the last four characters.
And do what these following pictures show.
Maybe this can be added in the Supply-Crate untaint as it is used by a lot of game companies to ban people's computers.
If you do not trust yourself to do this, just let me know and I can do that.


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What are your thoughts? I would love to know what people think… What is the going rate for the Tooth Fairy? Farrah Abraham, from MTV's Teen Mom, has posted on social media that her daughter lost her 2 front teeth. See gave her daughter $600 PLUS gifts!! Now call me crazy but isn;t this a […]Read more
Free Tooth Fairy Story For Kids
Have your children ever wondered what happens to their tooth when the Tooth fairy has been to collect it? Well now they can find out 🙂 Simply click the link, follow the on-screen instructions to set up the story and let the fun begin 🙂 Click here to startRead more


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2923 Diamond Hill Road, Saint Johnsbury 05819, Vermont802-595-1444
Hawk Ridge Furniture is owned and operated by master craftsman and furniture designer Paul Donio. From his furniture studio in Vermont, Paul uses traditional woodworking techniques and methods to create custom pieces for clients throughout the United States. He uses sustainably harvested materials whenever possible. Whether it be a handmade table, stand-up writing desk, or hardwood platform bed, Paul's attention to detail is paramount. Browse Hawk Ridge Furniture's selection of handmade Shaker furniture, Mission style furniture, or check out the studio's blog for shop updates. Looking for a custom piece of furniture?
Contact Paul online, or by calling 802-595-1444.
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(802) 626-9696
Did you miss the latest Chamber e-Newsletter in your Inbox? If you would like to be added to our e-newsletter mailing list, please contact us at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Looking for information about the Town of Lyndon? See the Our Town page, or visit the town's Municipal website at LyndonVT.org
Looking for ways to volunteer in our community? Is your organization looking for ways to connect with local volunteers? The Lyndon Area Chamber of Commerce's new Opportunities to Serve our Community page is a resource for those looking to positively affect our community though volunteerism and for those organizations who need to 'get the word out' that they need volunteers.


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As a life-long gardener, Alan Johnson developed an appreciation for the bounty of a garden, but a distinct dislike for some of the drudgery that went with it. His father was a lumber jack and sawyer in the 1920's who used a two-man saw and double-bit axe to harvest timber and later owned a retail lumber yard until he retired in the 1970's. His father taught Alan to appreciate hand tools – especially well designed and quality made ones.
After buying a hand cultivator that was a disappointment, Alan decided to try to design a more efficient cultivator. After many prototypes and testing, the Maxadyne Wheel Hoe was patented in 1988. With only minor design changes, it continues to be sold today and has won praise and appreciation, especially from market gardeners.
Realizing that there was a need for a tool that would get into places where a wheel hoe was not practical, Alan started trying to improve the common hand hoe in 2009. Again, many prototypes were made and much testing done, some of it by Hunt Utility Group, an unbiased nonprofit research organization. The result was the VersaTill Garden Grooming System, which is described below.
As gardeners weed and cultivate their garden, they inevitably encounter varied conditions such as a narrow gap between cultivated plants; larger areas with weed growth; perhaps a large area of small, shallow rooted weeds, and an occasional large deep rooted weed.
In the same garden, you may have weeds with thick, woody roots and weeds with shallow, succulent roots. You may encounter areas of hard-packed soil that need to be tilled deeply to improve aeration and water absorption. Obviously, one weeding tool is not efficient for all the weeding and cultivation situations a gardener typically encounters in the garden.
A wide cutting edge is most efficient when larger areas of small, shallow-rooted weeds are encountered. Conversely, a narrow cutting edge is best to 'root out' larger, deep rooted weeds or when weeds are between closely spaced plants. Other cultivation tasks might include forming a furrow for planting seeds or bulbs or forming a channel for irrigation. These tasks are best accomplished with specialized implements.
To meet the various garden cultivation challenges mentioned above, numerous hoe designs have attempted to make multi-purpose tools for weeding and tilling. The VersaTill Garden Grooming System has succeeded in making a multi-functional cultivation tool where others have failed. It took several years of designing and testing prototypes to arrive a practical design.
A) Adaptable to various garden cultivation tasks
B) Economical to manufacture.
C) Capable of utilizing two distinct tools on a common handle.
D) Capable of quick and easy tool head changes.
E) Capable of utilizing a variety of 'two-tool' combinations on the same handle.
F) Configured so that the non-working tool head is not in conflict with the operator.
G) Easy to pack and ship.
H) Efficient in providing mechanical advantage for the operator.
I) Designed with ergonomic principles in mind so that long term or intensive use will not cause injury.
J) Capable of switching implements from a long handle to a short handle.
K) Easy and quick to be converted from right hand operation to left hand operation.
L) A tool system which will accept a wide range of tool heads for tilling, furrowing, hilling, raking, leveling, and various weeding tasks


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Today's dose of NX rumor is here!
We are hearing that Nintendo NX reveal is set for October. The news comes from Wall Street Journal after it published a report about Nintendo's new gaming machine.
Needless to say this is just another piece of rumor but Wall Street Journal is usually right about such matters. However, the same publication ran a different story a week ago saying that reveal could be set for September. We'll have to wait and see how things pan-out.
Also See: Rumor: Nintendo NX is Coming Out on March 10, Launch Titles Leaked, Reveal Set for September 21
Nintendo has previously said that they will need to do a better job communicating the positioning of the product, and that is exactly what the company plans to do during its reveal event.
Nintendo will not repeat past mistakes.
We have to do a better job helping people to understand its uniqueness and what that means for the game playing experience. And we have to do a better job from a software planning standpoint to have that continuous beat of great new games that are motivating more and more people to pick up the hardware and more and more people to pick up the software, said Reggie Fils-Aime
The console is a mystery surrounded by countless rumors and reports. Some say that Nintendo NX will be using cartridges for its next-generation console a move that may prompt a reassessment of the classic format.
Industry watchers say that cartridges are indeed a reasonable choice for Nintendo's next generation gaming platform as the company targets a wider range of consumers than Sony or Microsoft.
Sony and Microsoft have already revealed their new console models that will sit alongside current-gen hardware. PlayStation 4 Pro will be out this year while Project Scorpio is hitting shelves next year.
All eyes are now on Nintendo and NX.


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The overall goal for Food Day is to transform the American diet. I personally see this as a wonderful opportunity and challenge for all of us across America to build our meals around REAL foods. We should enjoy the great flavors and reap the powerful nutrient-rich benefits of consuming vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean meat, and low-or-no fat dairy foods each day. Adversely, overly processed foods are usually high in added solid fats, sugar, and salt are often high in calories, low in nutrients per calorie, and are packaged in non-biodegradable plastic , making them increase our waistline, heighten chronic disease risk , harm our health and the environment.
Need help getting started to improve your eating? Download one of the delicious, healthful, easy-to-prepare recipes from some of the country's most prominent chefs and cookbook writers in the Food Day cookbook.
You can also try a favorite recipe of mine from my book, The Cooper Clinic Solution to the Diet Revolution: Step up to the Plate(2009). This recipe is full of delicious, fresh ingredients that you can find in season now at your local farmer's market or in the produce section of your grocery store.
Ranch Pasta and Vegetable Salad
6 ounces corkscrew pasta, uncooked
¼ pound fresh snow peas, trimmed (about 1 ½ cups)
1 ½ cups fresh broccoli flowerets
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
1 cup fresh cherry tomato halves
2 medium fresh yellow squash, trimmed and cut into 2" x ¼" strips
¾ cup nonfat buttermilk
½ cup 1% lowfat cottage cheese
2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
1 clove garlic, chopped
¼ teaspoon salt
1 green onion, chopped (about 1/3 cup)
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped (about 2 Tablespoons)
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro or parsley
- Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain; rinse under cold water, and drain again. Place in a large bowl.
- Blanch snow peas, broccoli and squash in boiling water 30 seconds; drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking process. Drain well; add to pasta.
- Process buttermilk and next 4 ingredients in an electric blender until smooth; add green Onion, jalapeno and cilantro; process until minced. Pour over pasta mixture, and toss. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours.
Yield: 8 cups (8 servings)
Per Serving: 125 Calories, 1 g Fat, 3 g fiber, 7 g protein
For more resources and nutrition and healthy eating tips, visit www.georgiakostas.com/Products.aspx . Follow me on Twitter / @georgiakostas, Facebook / Georgia Kostas Nutrition, and LinkedIn / Georgia Kostas.


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Vampire Academy 2 Frostbite By Richelle Mead
During her qualifier exam Rose finds out first hand about the death and destruction the Strigoi cause. In order to liven everyone's spirits as well as keep them safe, the students and their families head to a nearby ski lodge. After hearing about a second attack some of the group decide to go after the Strigoi. When Rose finds out where they have gone and try to bring them back. All of them end up getting kidnapped. While struggling to stay alive Rose finds out how far she is willing to go for her friends safety.


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Very large home... how to?60
71454 8 8
|sdubose99 private msg quote post Address this user
|I read there are max 200 sweeps in one model but I have a 9000 sq foot home to do. How should I approach that? Make multiple models, one per floor?
|Post 1 IP flag post
|Glenda private msg quote post Address this user
|You can probably get it all done with less than 200 scans. The one I did yesterday was 7,500 sf and it was less than 150. Of course, the actual number of the last scan was 156 because of the 20 or so misaligned scans that had to be redone.
Which begs the question: Does the rendering software look at the actual number of scans or will the capture app stop when it reaches 200?
|Post 2 IP flag post
|YairYepez private msg quote post Address this user
|Yes.A scan per floor is a good option. But if you have time, and if you can do the scan twice, then i suggedt to do it regardless the limitations of the tech. Keep it below 200 sweeps and distribute that into the 9000sqft. The separation between sweepd shoule be >3ft and <8ft. And don't overscan it. Too much sweeps are bad for the navigation of the model, it becomes slow an tedious to navigate a 3D showcase wit too many sweeps.
|Post 3 IP flag post
WGAN Forum
|DanSmigrod private msg quote post Address this user
|@sdubose99 Since Capture 2.x has a duplicate feature, if you get to 180 scans for one model with two floors, for example, and can not complete the house within 200 scans, then duplicate the model to make two models. (In one model, delete floor 1 scans. In the other model, delete floor 2 scans.) To duplicate, go to the top right corner ("Edit" button) of the app when you are reviewing all your models.
9,000 sq ft is easily doable within 200 scans. About @Glenda question, If you do 225 scan, but deleted 50 scans during capture, Matterport counts 175 scans.
Capture 1.x app would tell you the scan count. I have asked Matterport to add the counter back in a future release of the app (and feel that they will do that).
By the way, congrats on the 9,000 sq. ft. house project. Hope you will share it here when done.
|Post 4 IP flag post
|JohnBecker private msg quote post Address this user
|Bob at Matterport has told me that 200 isn't a hard limit. It's just the point at which they can no longer guarantee a good, working model that's a reasonable size. Capture won't stop working if it sees a scan number above 200.
|Post 5 IP flag post
|sdubose99 private msg quote post Address this user
|Thanks Dan and John... I sure don't want to push it. Would be horrible to have it not work right after spending hours on a home.
|Post 6 IP flag post
WGAN Forum
|DanSmigrod private msg quote post Address this user
|@sdubose99 To follow up on @JohnBecker comment, if you submit a model with 210 scans, for example, and it does not process, you could remove 10 scans and re-submit it. Matterport would then make sure that it will process because it's within their 200 limit.
By the way, it's possible to see 226 scans even though you deleted 27. At the moment, I manually count to see that I am at 199. I do the "count" when I am done and, if necessary, remove scans.
Good luck with the 9,000 sq. ft. house model. I look forward to viewing it in doll house view with all floors within the model.
|Post 7 IP flag post
|sdubose99 private msg quote post Address this user
|You guys are great... Here's what Bob at Matterport came back with, which reflects the same info you gave:
"200 sweeps per model is the current official maximum number of scans per model. While its not a hard stop, it does have technical merit. Basically it was determined that a 200 sweep model was the maximum sized model that could be reliably / repeatedly processed and viewed without issue. While it is possible to go higher, its beyond the scope of the current product, and puts you at an increased risk of processing and viewing issues.
Having said that, as long as you are willing to accept the risks, you can certainly experiment with larger models. I can also let you know that we are typically able to address processing errors with these models with the catch that it often takes several days to do so."
|Post 8 IP flag post
This topic is archived. Start new topic?


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Steve Bugeja was voted "most likely to be forgotten" at school (the reunion was in February, apparently).
To prove his former classmates wrong, he hits the road for his third and largest UK tour to date with Almost, following three critically-acclaimed shows and direct from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Almost sees Steve trapped on a 13-hour flight when he receives a text that flips his entire world upside down, leading him to contemplate issues of great importance. Is finding "the one" possible? Can we trust the pharmaceutical industry? And why are Japanese toilets so much better than ours?


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About The Friendly Marketer
Branding | Mentoring | Social Media
When I first entered the online arena, with the idea of making a second income from the Internet, little did I know it would involve so much learning and offtimes frustration.
I made up in my mind that I would not only succeed, but I would also position myself to teach teach others what I learnt & in so doing, help them make the transition to earning an online income far easier than it had been for me.
My Story
During the month of December 2013, I found myself in the rather uncomfortable position of being homeless. If it were just me I would have taken it in stride, but I had a wife to take care of.
I remembered a lady owing me some money and having up to this point refused to pay, I struck a deal. She had plenty of room and I was allowed to occupy a room at her home until the debt had been paid.
It was there that I began thinking about getting a second income stream but from where was my dilemna. Then one evening while watching my wife amuse herself playing games on Facebook, the idea struck me. Why not use the Internet to make money?!
Thus began my journey. I started searching the Internet, looking for ways to earn a living, but it seemed so far above my head. There was so much to learn and I wasn't quite sure where to begin.
I met Richard Stahler in January of 2014 and we hit it off right away. Rick was a down to earth guy and he was impressed with my determination to learn and to reach my desired goals.
I then went into a couple programs with Rick and had my first taste of making money online. Rick gave me the basic foundational education I needed, pointing me to the books I would need to read and the mindset to adopt if I were to become a success.
Let me fastforward here as this is not my biography (smile). I adopted certain skills, began following whom I considered to be the leaders of the day. All the while I was doing this and being exposed to all types of programs, I was making money, but still not having that breakthrough moment.
I ended up having to leave the comfort of that small room where my wife and I hadd been staying, because sometimes people get jealous when they see you are beginning to make strides.
We ended up going from place to place , never staying long enough to be properly settled and even was living in our car at one point. Well I was sleeping in the car and my wife on the floor of a "friend's" living room.
But all that is behind us now. I've come a long way, learnt quite a lot, made quite a bit of money too as I was learning and now it's time to share my knowledge and hopefully Inspire and Encourage others to realize their full and true potential in life.
My name is David Jones. As long as I've known myself, I've tried to treat others how I myself would welcome being treated. I elected to Brand myself in a way that spoke to my character and would naturally create an environment where people would want to approach me even if just out of curiosity. I believe I have found my true calling. Thank You.
You can get everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want. – Zig Ziglar
David Jones aka The Friendly Marketer
Internet Marketer | Supreme Court Marshal
Hi, David here again. Over to the left, you'll see my story. It's not spectacular, but it's true. Here I'm just giving you a little more detail about myself that I didn't mention in the story that might be useful in your getting to know me.
I'm happily married to Julie (celebrating my 10th anniversary soon), no children but still contented. Professionally, I'm a Supreme Court Marshal.
I'm from Barbados, West Indies. Lived here all my life. I love the Internet and being creative. I love to help people and I know that I have been called to serve. Thanks for taking the time to stop by.
"Value and Trust are so key in Networking and Business. David Jones went far above and beyond what I expected and was so helpful & genuine to me!"
Why Work With Me?
Good question. Well I believe that you need someone who has been there and who would have gone through what you're more than likely experiencing right now. The frustration and the overwhelming desire to just chalk it up to failure and quit.
But when I work with people I see potential. Just the fact that you're willing to try is enough to pursue your dream and for me to help you get there by bringing out the best in you. As famed Motivational speaker Les Brown would say " You have greatness in you." Let expose it for the world to see.
Apt.4, Ronn Court.
Rendezvous Rd.,
Rendezvous, Christ Church,
Barbados, BB15115
Tel: 1 (246) 845-8458
For Enquiries About Saving GOLD email@example.com
WhatsApp – 1 (246 ) 845 – 8458


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Mum has been a Mornington Peninsula local for over half a century. She loves local fish. She used to fish but those years are behind her, as 80 is her next big birthday.
There's a little restaurant in Sorrento called Cakes and Ale that serves some of the best fish in Victoria. They should be. The fish are caught in the southern end of the bay down near Drysdale in the wee hours of the morning and sent over on the Queenscliff ferry later that day to be served for lunch and dinner. Garfish, king george whiting, snapper and whitebait.
We order a dish of deep-fried whitebait, served with wonderfully bitter greens. Mum says, "This is proper food. Delicious and so good for you."
The Port Phillip commercial fishery where our meal was caught, however, is being shut down. Legislation to buy back some 43 commercial fishing licences in Port Phillip Bay was introduced into the Victorian Parliament late last month. If passed, a century-and-a-half-old industry will end and Melburnians will no longer be able to buy fresh, local seafood caught on their bay and shipped to their shops and restaurants in a matter of hours.
"Phasing out commercial net fishing in Port Phillip Bay is the flagship commitment of our Target One Million plan," said Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford. "It will get more people fishing, more often, right here on Melbourne's doorstep. Removing netting from Port Phillip Bay will help attract more visitors to this prime fishing destination, boosting local economies and supporting local businesses."
Prior to the last state election, both Liberal and Labor promised to end commercial netting in the bay to appeal to the 720,000 recreational fishers in Victoria.
The fishers affected are people like Mick White. Based in Drysdale, he has been fishing the southern end of the bay for 20 years. The technology he uses to fish the shallow waters is seine netting. It's an ancient technique, aided by modern technology.
A net with floats on the top and weights on the bottom is "shot" to form a curve in the water and is dragged back towards the beach. Fishers stand waist-deep in water and hand-sort the fish into boxes, and throw back live non-targeted species and undersized fish. This is the method of fishing that is recommended to communities in developing nations to fish sustainably.
Professional fishermen have felt the brunt of local opposition from people who claim they are overfishing the bay, particularly Corio Bay near Geelong. Recreational fishing pressure group Friends of Corio Bay Action Group have long been pushing for a ban on the local professional fishermen. This Geelong-based coalition has spent the past half-decade documenting and publicising commercial fishers' transgressions, such as one being charged with 35 offences, including under-reporting catches, supplying false documents and using an additional long line.
The bay fishers have an unlikely champion, with Victorian Greens leader Greg Barber publicly supporting them. "If Greenpeace says it's sustainable, then it is good enough for me," he said in an interview with ABC Radio National. "I am a person who likes my fish and I like Australian fish. I don't want it flown in from Argentina."
The law has Melbourne chefs railing against the bill. Seafood specialist Michael Bacash, from his eponymous South Yarra restaurant, says, "This will dramatically reduce the quality of the fish we serve in the restaurant. Fish deteriorates from the moment it is caught. In Melbourne, we are unique in the way we get seafood that is so incredibly fresh because the fishery is so close," he said.
"Imagine telling a winemaker that he had to get rid of his best wine. That is what is happening here in Victoria. It is right to regulate this industry but not destroy it. I will no longer be able to sell some of the best seafood products in the world."
His views are supported by the likes of chefs Frank Camorra and Oliver Edwards. Edwards said in Good Food last year, "This has nothing to do with sustainability."
Edwards pointed out that the Port Phillip fisheries have been independently assessed as by the Australian Conservation Foundation and given the tick by the government's own Department of Environment and Primary Industries.
"Admittedly fishing in the bay needs a few tweaks," Andrew McLaughlin, chairman of seafood distributor Melbourne Seafood Centre, says. "But banning netting altogether is going to cost about 150 to 200 jobs in and around Geelong."
"The unintended consequence of this ban is that we're going to see a doubling in the price of local seafood and pressure being put on other Victorian fisheries, such as Corner Inlet [near Wilson's Promontory]."
Commercial fishers harvest 650 tonnes of seafood from the bay each year. Four hundred and fifty tonnes of this is lesser-loved species such as tommy rough, mullet and silver trevally, species that are in demand with lower-income shoppers, including migrants from Asian and Africa. Some in the industry claim that fish such as king george whiting will become the new crayfish, with only the rich being able to afford it.
McLaughlin says the new law does allow a few commercial fishers to use lines with hooks, but that they will be targeting snapper and king george whiting. "Which is ironic," he says, "as these are the fish that recreational fishers most want."
Back in Sorrento, we finish the whitebait caught off the shore at St Leonards. These tiny little fish can only be caught by net. Mum and I savour the fresh flavour.
"When I first came to the Peninsula there were little fishermen dotted around the bays. I've seen a lot of change in my life down here," she says.
The snapper arrives. It is covered in vegetables from the restaurant's garden. We eat the snapper, cleaning the flesh from the bones. Sweet, gelatinous and delicious. If the law is passed, the ban starts next April. Perhaps this has been one of the last such meals we will get to eat together.


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Just three days after its season finale, TNT has canceled its low-rated freshman drama Trust Me.
Although the cancellation will no doubt disappoint fans, it really shouldn't come at much of a surprise. The show's series on January 26th managed just 3.40 million viewers (okay for other cable nets, but not so for TNT), before dropping a disastrous 44% — to 1.91M viewers — the following week.
Source: THR


text: If you have to get cheap air tickets then you need to plan in advance and book as early as possible. In the last minute you may get some deals but there will be difference between booking an air ticket in advance and booking in last minute. Indian Eagle offers best deals on flights to India from USA.