SamanthaEvans

Woah, Andy! That's distinctive, to be sure. It kinda reminds me of this pic of Sean Connery--which I'm sure he regrets--from a forgettable film called Zardoz:

Strange! I use Firefox. The Nominate button is there, slightly raised up from the others in the line. Maybe try clearing your cache and see if that makes a difference?

I did some of each and enjoyed them both. I notice that a lot of classics scholars end up in Anthropology. Maybe because it's a broader, more flexible field? Margaret Visser, for example, did much of her academic work in classics, but says that she's an anthropologist, now. You're more likely to be able to design projects or research topics that fit with your own interests in Anthro. Plus, what you've already learned in classics is still useful.

Looks like Pete is leading a new trend! Gentlemen, I challenge each of you to create your own, custom line of men's underwear. Y-fronts or boxers, as seems appropriate. Speedos, too, if you dare! Your choice of fabrics, patterns, colours, fit, drape, embellishments--there are so many possibilitiies. A fashion show would be a marvelous thing! The ladies have been doing this very thing since the dawn of time. Now it's YOUR turn! :biggrin:

I'm not interested in arguing about religion or spirituality. Religions fascinate me, though. I don't believe that any one religion has a monopoly on Truth. I don't think that all religions are the same, though. It seems pretty clear to me that they're not. What grabs my attention are notions about what is good; where bad things come from; what is the purpose of life; how do we find meaning when faced with enormous pain or suffering; what is sacred and why; what is hope, where does it come from and how does it matter; etc. I'm always interested in hearing about others' views and experiences. What people learned when they were children and how their views have been affirmed, deepened or changed over the course of their life often makes for a great discussion. The question I most want to ask these days is, What have your religious or spiritual values motivated you to do, and why?

Congratulations! You have the great gift of lifting hearts and lightening moods. Keep at it!

And good single-malt scotch! Also, flame-throwers. Lots and lots of flame-throwers. Good for zapping zombies and also for flash-barbecuing food when the hydro gives out and the hamsters are too tired to generate power 'cuz they're keeping the Interwebs running.

Oh, you are so correct! I think you've hit the proverbial nail squarely. The sex trade is all about fantasy, at every level. For some, talking to a paid companion is a huge thrill and doesn't need to be followed by anything else. For others, discussing what might happen in a meeting, how each person feels about particular acts and what they really want is the most important thing. And there are those who have hit the jackpot when they book an appointment, sometimes so much that they don't actually need to show up for the meeting. I think that some folks like to ask whether a companion is available today at 3:00 so that they can imagine what she's doing, if she says she's not free, or they can imagine her waiting for them to arrive, if she said she was available. It also seems that there are others whose main thrill is finding out where a companion is working: they follow through on the whole protocol until they finally have directions to get to her and then they don't ring the bell. These fantasies are part of the reason why it can make such a difference for the client and companion to have a telephone conversation before or when they book the meeting. Those little chats help ensure that both parties will meet, in person and on time.

No offense taken! :-) Reviews seem to be a good idea, I admit. Restaurant reviews, consumer reports and the like are important to me in my "real" life. I want to be sure that I'm spending my money on goods and services that will be as good as, or better than, I expect them to be. My fees are high; I completely understand why someone would want to be sure that he's getting good value for his money. It would be wonderful if we could have a review system for clients, as well, but there again, anonymity mitigates against it. There are several bad date sheets, including a list here at CERB, and sensible companions pay attention to them. Unfortunately, these lists aren't fool-proof, either. As it stands, the best way to be sure that the companion and the client are each what they claim to be, that they will show up for the date and that events will be satisfying, is to slow things down, take some time to make contact, have a telephone conversation, and, above all, to follow your gut instincts! If something doesn't seem right to either party, they should walk away. Intuition isn't perfect, but it's better to turn down something that could have been wonderful than to go ahead with something that could become threatening or dangerous.

Not that there's anything really wrong with that, eh? I mean, w-a-y more of my life is like a Python skit than most people (especially me) realize . . . :icon_biggrin:

Thanks, friends. You're very kind! I don't know about being the mother of CERB, though, Soleil, unless it's really, really clear that the mother is devastatingly attractive! LOL

Oh, for sure! First thing we do, let's feed 'em all the lawyers and call centre denizens! <cough, cough> Phaedrus, according to some knowledgeable sources, the unwritten 8th sign that the Zombie Apocalypse is upon us is the election of a Conservative majority government. Just reportin' what I heard....

From my standpoint, the biggest problem with reviews is that they're anonymous. There's no way to verify who the writer is, whether he even saw the woman he's purporting to review, how he behaved when he was with her, or anything else. On some boards, one has to be a member in order to read complete reviews. Membership can be purchased, or it can be acquired in exchange for writing reviews. That's a high incentive for writing bogus reviews. Too often, men will pretend to have seen X or Y. There are a few legendary campaigns that were launched against specific companions where the sole intent was to wreck the reputation of ladies who had long been credited with giving first-class care and attention. Men not only wrote highly critical reviews, but also encouraged others to engage in attacking the companion in order to wreck her reputation, sometimes just because they could do it. Sadly, some of these hate-campaigns succeeded: the companions concerned saw their business go up in smoke for no good reason and without having recourse to protect or defend themselves against their attackers. Two women I know started over, inventing new names, new websites, the whole bit--requiring literally hundreds of unpaid hours to get back to work. Others have not been so resilient. Very young, stunningly beautiful women who are newcomers to the sex trade get a lot of attention. If they have level heads and have done their homework adequately, they can make a killing in their first year, especially if their reviews are good. False reviews that are highly flattering are likely to be written by board members who want to advertise that they had a romp with the latest, hottest lovely. Reviews that exaggerate negative points are also likely to be written, though. At the same time, there are older women, women who've been in the industry for awhile, women who are smaller, larger, extensively tattooed, or who have unique physical traits, and women who focus on particular fetishes and activities who do very well in the business but who are never or very rarely reviewed. Some men don't want to make it publicly known that they like certain types of women or that they want to engage in particular activities. One might assume that women who do not have a long list of reviews to refer to are not worth seeing. In too many cases, the written reviews are not about the paid companion at all. They're about the writer and what he wants readers to believe about his aesthetics, technique and endurance. Recommendations, on the other hand, are more likely to be about the companion and the qualities she offers that the writer thinks others will enjoy. Read reviews if you like. Read recommendations, too. Pay attention to companions who seem interesting to you, for whatever reason, however much they've been reviewed or recommended. Get to know the ones you think you might like to visit at some time, whether in the near future or later. Most of us will exchange up-beat PMs quite happily. When you want to set up a meeting, arrange to speak with your chosen companion in person, on the phone. In my experience, that conversation will be the one thing that gives you and her the greatest assurance that the meeting will take place as planned. Voice-to-voice contact takes the engagement from the mental fantasy phase to the real-life, anticipation phase. If you enjoy each other on the phone, the meeting will happen. If it doesn't, you can expect to be given appropriate notice and a very good reason for her need to postpone, just as you'll be concerned to give her the same consideration.

This is one of the saddest stories I've read in a long time . . . .

:icon_eek: Do you mean that the standard tinfoil hat that we all wear, all the time (when not providing or availing oneself of companion services, that is) will not be adequate? Some of us will be very suspicious of the idea of having "others" tamper with their protective gear!

A Mona's Smile pizza from Sympatico's restaurant on West 4th Avenue is a wonderful delight. Order the extra-large one so that there's plenty to take home to eat cold in the morning. I also crave dark chocolate; well-aged Christmas fruitcake (My Mom's recipe, full of candied fruit and nuts with just enough cake to hold it all together, then soaked in brandy for a month or more. Great with a glass of Merlot.); candied ginger; real Guinness, in Ireland (anyone want to go?); a pear and gorgonzola sandwich with walnuts on whole-grain bread; fresh linguine with brie, fresh tomatoes and fresh basil that have been combined for several hours and allowed to stand at room temperature before melting together over the linguine; apple crisp pudding, made with mincemeat and oatmeal; Murchie's Earl Grey Tea; Market Spice Tea from Pike's Market in Seattle; almost overripe mangos . . . .

Old Dog, the Zombie Apocalypse must not be bad for business! In uncertain times, paid companions have traditionally helped to relieve stress, provide hope, improve men's sense of prowess, etc. Personally, I'm stocking up on clean sheets, condoms, lubricants, bondage and discipline equipment, as well as various toys. I'm happy to advise that I have friends who are avid breeders and trainers of hamsters who will merrily run generators, as required, to re-charge sex toy batteries. I would advise the gentlemen here to become adept at using e-mail money transfers rather than take the risks associated with waiting at bank machines before visiting their companions. Meanwhile, the ladies will develop screening methods to secure against zombies attempting to pose as potential clients. E-mail correspondence may become de rigeur, since zombies are not known to be able to write, let alone use computers. The Internet, of course, will continued to be powered by hamsters, mice and trained rats. As always.

I have been searching for the perfect purse for eons. I've come close a few times, but never found one that suits my needs exactly, including the years I toted around a Lands' End diaper bag. I want a bag that's big enough for everything without looking like it's holding a lot of stuff. I want it to look good both when it's nearly empty and when it's almost too full. I want it to have compartments that stay closed but which will magically open the first time I reach in, say, to answer my cell phone. I want it to be made of beautiful, finest-quality leather, soft as butter, but able to survive a fall from an airplane, if required. I want it to repel dirty slush, mud and watercolor paint. When required, I want it to magically produce that lost lipstick or eyeliner pencil. Of course, it should always have contain enough spare change for the parking meter and should frequently surprise me with an unexpected $50 bill tucked in some corner. As it ages, I want it to look graceful and storied, not like it's been knocked-around for much longer than is seemly. Naturally, I also want it to make me, by association, to look more lovely and cultured, but also more easy-going and friendly. If you find one of these, WiT, you know how to get in touch with me, don't you? ;)

rubintugger, you're being a bit harsh, I think. I have accepted credit cards in the past and have never had any difficulty with the clients or with PayPal. As I said, earlier, I think I may have simply been lucky. I no longer accept CCs and don't recommend it to anyone. Please reconsider your subscription to stereotypes about how paid companions account for their income. Most of us do declare our earnings on our tax returns and those who make enough also remit GST/HST. I do, though it's a real headache! Keep in mind, too, that it is perfectly legal to exchange sex for money in Canada. The circumstances and location are subject to legal restrictions, however, and a paid companion cannot legally pay someone to work for her, nor can she support anyone else on her income. If she can find a way to work around these restrictions, collecting a fee for sex is legal. Also, companions do sometimes provide company in exchange for things other than money. We're often offered things like cars, condominiums, townhouses, jewellery and other goods. Some of us accept such offers; some of us don't. Lastly, I would personally appreciate it if you could avoid making shots about women who work outdoors, on the streets. Not only is it unfair, especially if you don't know any of them, but it's a bit bloody-minded, in my opinion. For many reasons, street workers have the fewest choices and also work in the most dangerous conditions. I hope a gentleman would feel compassion and concern, not disdain, for street workers, whether he partakes of their company or not.

I don't discriminate on the basis of where someone works. Someone's profession or place of employment is no guarantee that they will be on time or able to pay my fee. My actual experience is that middle-income men are more reliable and less likely to try to cut a deal for themselves after they've arrived than are the very wealthy. The men who find that they need to save up in order to see me are often among the best clients because they see a meeting with a paid companion to be a delightful, rare treat, something to be savored. Requests for information are simply ways to ensure that I'm as safe and secure as the gentleman is. I never ask for employment information first. There are other ways to satisfy my needs. But if those aren't available, confirming employment may be a reasonable option. I know several companions in the US who require clients to have a membership with a verification service and also ask to see a piece of government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license, to confirm their identity when they arrive. Prostitution is illegal in most of the US and so companions have a legitimate concern about being entrapped by law enforcement officials.

Hope you have a wonderful day!

From the [URL="http://goitalonetogether.ca/"]Go It Alone (Together)[/URL] blog [CENTER][SIZE=4]Choosing Our Battles: Why the feminist movement needs to stop arguing and support the decriminalisation of sex work [/SIZE][/CENTER] [URL]http://goitalonetogether.ca/2011/08/24/choosing-our-battles-why-the-feminist-movement-needs-to-stop-arguing-and-support-the-decriminalisation-of-sex-work/[/URL] In May, Emily and I gave a workshop at the Montreal Anarchist Bookfair: â??[I]The Struggle for Reproductive Autonomy: From underground abortion collectives to the fight to decriminalize sex work.â?[/I] Before we had even left our home city of Halifax, we received a phone call from one of the bookfairâ??s organisers to discuss some of the conflict that had arisen in the feminist movement in Quebec around the decriminalisation of sex work. The organiser explained that there was a strong movement in support of the abolition of sex work in Montreal and Quebec. Later, Emily and I spoke at length about strategies for addressing possible disruptions at the workshop, as well as a number of ways to ensure an effective discussion could be had recognising and respecting divergent views. There was no vocal presence from the â??sex work abolitionistsâ? at the workshop, and largely the discussion was focused on the need for more inclusive, accessible, queer- and trans-positive health care providers focused on a model of informed consent with regards to care. But we also had to ask ourselves â?? what does â??abolishingâ? sex work mean? [B]Abolition v. Prohibition[/B] Abolish, in my understanding of the word, means to eliminate, to end, maybe even to destroy. This is the way I use the word when I speak with my political allies about abolishing the prison system. I mean there should be no more prisons. I also know that this is a long and difficult process â?? one that involves struggle in many forms, and one that posits social revolution. Near the end of her book, [I]Are Prisons Obsolete[/I], Angela Davis explains:[INDENT]â??[P]ositing decarceration as our overarching strategy, we would try to envision a continuum of alternatives to imprisonmentâ??demilitarization of schools, revitalization of education at all levels, a health system that provides free physical and mental care to all, and a justice system based on reparation and reconciliation rather than retribution and vengeance. The creation of new institutions that lay claim to the space now occupied by the prison can eventually start to crowd out the prison so that it would inhabit increasingly smaller areas of our social and psychic landscape. Schools can therefore be seen as the most powerful alternative to jails and prisons.â? (pp.107-108) [/INDENT]The struggle to abolish prisons, then, is an active struggle that works to shrink the role prisons have in our society, the role they play in the core of our understandings of justice. Coming from this position, and having read a lot written by those who oppose sex work, I have a series of questions for â??abolitionistsâ? who are currently opposing the decriminalisation of sex work in Canada. [LIST=1] [*]What would abolishing sex work actually look like? [*]How, in practical terms, does prohibition work towards the goal of abolition? [*]Where has prohibition been an effective tool for changing social conditions or altering social practices? [/LIST] These are not rhetorical questions; they are genuine questions I would like to see answered by those people who are currently opposing the decriminalisation of sex work. There are more questions that run through my mind: What kinds of sex work would/should be prohibited? What about strippers, professional dominatrices, webcam girls, freelance fetish workers, burlesque perfomers? Who should be criminalised? Sex workers, johns, madames, members of the kink community, bachelor parties, bar/club owners? I would like those opposing sex work decriminalisation to speak plainly, in materialist terms, about how that fight fits with their goals, strategies, and tactics. In the current political climate of our â??tough on crimeâ? Conservative government, I can imagine the horrors of a â??war on sex workâ? â?? the most marginalised sex workers and johns thrown into cages, perhaps first brutalized by the police. I can see the way that those who are most vulnerable to police violence â?? sex workers of colour, trans sex workers, survivor sex workers, Aboriginal sex workers, sex workers without status, underage sex workers â?? would be treated, forced further and further underground and out of sight. I can see it because it happens already. I can see it because these are patterns that pop up elsewhere: in our mental health system, the way that people struggling with addictions are treated, the way that survivors of domestic violence continue to be treated. If the Canadian Border Service Agency can go into shelters and crisis centres searching for non-status survivors of abuse, why do we think we can trust them to treat non-status and/or trafficked sex workers with dignity, respect, and care? The end of sex work will not come by the way of the law, and as with many other things, the law continues to work in the interests of those who have power, not the oppressed. For decades, feminists have repeated over and over that criminalising abortion will not stop abortions. Where abortions are needed, they happen, often with terrible consequences. Women die when abortion is not accessible. How many times have we repeated the chant, â??Pro-life thatâ??s a lie, you donâ??t care if women die,â? in opposition to anti-choice forces? So, why now, do we think that prohibition of sex work would stop trafficking or violence against sex workers? [B]The Discussion We Cannot Haveâ?¦ Yet[/B] There are valid political, ideological, and moral discussions feminists need to have on their analyses of sex work, of labour, of the police and prisons, and a hundred other facets of the role of sex work in our society. The time for those discussions is not now. The decriminalisation of sex work could actually open up space for a larger, more creative discusssion to be had about sex work, sex workers, patriarchy, the criminal legal system, and state control of womenâ??s bodies. We could start talking about new models for sex worker organising. We could think of new ways of approaching anti-violence work in our communities. We could think critically about what role (if any) we see the legal system having in our fight for a more just and equitable world. It is in these discussions that we could actually talk about abolishing sex work. Because the question before the courts right now, has nothing to do with abolition, and everything to with prohibition. I am prepared to have those discussions, debates, arguments. I am willing to be open and to challenge myself, and to listen during what would be challenging times. But I wonâ??t do that until this court case is settled because now, my energy needs to be there, supporting sex workers in my communities, most of them women and queer and trans folk, in this battle against dangerous and oppressive laws. -Kaley

This is a great list, Liana. Thank you! Although it's not intercourse-related, strictly speaking, if a man drinks a glass of pineapple juice a couple of hours before playtime is supposed to improve the flavour of his semen.

Not good news. I fear that his plan to stay on at the company is like Jack Layton's plan to return to Parliament in September. I hope I'm wrong.

It's fun to read this thread. I guess it's left to me to be the proverbial wet blanket, though . . . If a gentleman is a client, I don't spend time with him off the clock, so to speak. For me, that blurs boundaries all over the place and I just don't want to take that risk. And of course I think it's the client's responsibility, not mine, to initiate our meetings. But it's a great fantasy!