scribbles

I actually shuddered when I read the word "maverick". Unintentional invocation of Palin? Careful. She-who-must-not-be-named tends to appear in a puff of gunsmoke at the intonation of her name. ;)

I wonder how much of our faring better in the global economic crisis has to do with the nature of our economy vs the tactics of the governing party. I'm not an economist by any means, so these are just my musings, but... We have always had a staples economy; we sell the component products to other countries and purchase the final product back from them. For instance, oil is sold to the US an we buy the refined fuel back. The US is the opposite. So, in a crisis, a staples economy should in theory be more stable. After all, less demand for products means less need for us to buy from foreign economies, better reliance on our own production capacity, and control over the relative price we charge and pay for our exports and imports. Also, the biggest downfall in the US was lack of regulation in the banking system. We don't suffer from that ill, and not because of the current government. It's just a lucky happenstance. As far as being a great economic steward, PM Harper is providing a lot of reason for mistrust; in a rocky economic situation, his desire to hide and keep secret the true costs of his legislation and purchases (crime agenda, fighters) are a HUGE reason to be fearful. We simply don't know what he's spending, or where the money will come from.

Let's be careful about the whole "election our economy can't afford" line we keep hearing. As I wrote in a blog posting at http://www.cerebvellum.com, this is money being spent IN out economy. It's not like we throw the cash in a blast furnace. And, I think it's good we are having the election. I don't think the outcome will be any different. But, given the judgment of contempt, an election is necessary.

I saw the news clip on twitter and immediately wondered. Sad to hear my assumption was correct. Hope they lock the bastard up and lose the key.

Being new to this, I don't really know what it's like when a favorite SP retires. However, having been around people and friens who work in the various adult industries, I find that you develop friendships with people that, like all friendships, can be hard to give up. I would imagine that it's different in the case of a client and an SP, but maybe not so much. As others have mentioned, it's important to undersand that the relationship that is created is somewhat artificial. You are, in essence and for want of better words, leasing a moment of intimacy and connection. That doesn't necessarily preclude the moment from generating a real friendship or relationship, I would imagine (as SA says, we're not robots,) but I think the basic understanding going into this is that there is a necessary distance kept between the SP and the client, at least emotionally. So, when a favorite retires, I would think that it should be fairly easy to understand and accept, even if there are some regrets that the wonderful and fleeting moments you shared won't be repeated. I've been friends and known a lot of dancers over the years, and have fallen out of touch with some and kept in touch with many others. I miss the conversation and personalities of those I may never speak to again and value the friendships I have developed with those I stil seak to. I would think, for myself, it would be the same with an SP. I would welcome becoming a friend and getting o know them. But, I also know better than to expect that, and would wish them well in whatever they do if I were never to see them again. Regret and all.

The reason I disagree that her past profession is relevant is twofold. First, it's her "past" profession. Maybe we should bring up whether or not her was a Scout or Wolf Cub as a boy. What they did in the past is only relevant if it has direct bearing on their actions in the alleged crime. Which leads to my second point. Her past profession is not relevant unless you are making a connection between what she did for a living and an attitude, personality or propensity that makes it more believable that she committed the crime. Simply, are they saying "well of course she was a shady, fraudulent criminal; she used to be an escort!" The media is using her past profession as an "ah ha!" Corrupt, greedy ex-political operative schemes to make tons of money, and if you doubt the intent of the deal, well his fiancé was his accomplice, and she used to br an escort. Case closed. THAT is how using the titillation of this story under the false premise of relevance is damaging. And, worse, it draws negative attention to SPs in the midst of a court battle, and draws CERB into the media for a short spin.

Interesting that the emphasis seems to be placed on the fact she's an escort. Truly, what's the relevance? The scandal is the conflict of interest and the fact he was basically ensuring money for nothing for his fiancé from a pretty shady business deal, not that she was an escort. More sensationalism for the sake of sensationalism.

I think it's a natural, obvious and generally wrong assumption that there is a necessary linkage between the price of the service and the quality of the service. I think that in general we are conditioned to believe that anything that comes with a price tag can be assessed by the level the price is set at. This gets transposed onto SP services as well. In Ottawa, the average hourly rate appears to be between 200 and 250 or so. In my limited experience here and elsewhere, I have seen some within and some above that range. And, regardless of what I paid, there was variability in the quality of service and my level of enjoyment of the time. Yes, the ones I paid more for were great experiences, but I also had a great experience for less. At no point did I think that it would be reasonable to haggle, negotiate or define that lady's quality of service by the price bracket they fell into. Frankly, I think that the service provided regardless of the person is so utterly personal and intimate that the going rate doesn't come close to meeting its true worth. It's one hell of a privilege to be able to share that level of intimacy and closeness with a woman. How do you truly put a price on intimacy? That said, I'm one of those less old guys with less free money to throw around, so I am necessarily limited in my activities and how far I can go with things. It's not that I don't think a lady charging $500 an hour isn't worth it, I simply have to look at the economics of it and see that I probably can't afford that. It's unfortunate because I'll miss out on meeting some truly sensational women, but it's just the reality I live in. That's not to say the ladies charging $200 are less sensational. So, to the point of lower prices being degrading, I don't think that at all. I think that, as others have said, the ladies should charge what they feel their time is worth, and the guys will just have to hope they are able to swim in those waters or look elsewhere. The only thing that is degrading is to do something that you don't want to do because you don't think you have a choice.

I second the vote for Trinity. Absolutely amazing, and really fun to talk to as well.

I'm having trouble with the "inherently risky work" angle. I mean, really? What is inherently risky, in fact, about the work? (don't jump all over me yet) Spending time with a client having dinner is not a risky activity in and of itself. Dinner carries a low risk, unless you have allergies. :) Conversation can create a risk of boredom, but that's about it. And the act of having sex? You could argue health risks, but everyone else has sex as well which means they are partaking in a risky behaviour. So, what you are left with is a typical activity being undertaken for profit that is being made inherently risky by outside factors, ie criminal legislative provisions. Is say dangerous criminal legislative provisions are EXACTLY what the state is supposed to protect people from.

Happy day Berlin. Enjoy it.

I don't think it's at all surprising that there are 5 judges. This is a case that will, one way or another, define a moment in history. Because of the incredibly powerful nature of the subject being tried, the courts will heap prudence on this appeal. Nobody wants to say that the decision was made, for or against, lightly. And there's nothing new in what the Crown is asserting, but I wouldn't take that lightly either. Their argument might not hold much water, but it's been successful in marginalizing sex workers for a very long time. It's built on stereotype and false perception, but those are powerful tools in persuasion. I'm a little surprised that the tactic hasn't been to simply make prostitution illegal, as it is in the US. After all, you can't argue and complain about working in unfit conditions if the work you do is against the law. My fear is that all of this will lead to the government doing just that.

Resurface? Paradise is open elsewhere...

I'm going into my fourth year of riding, and loving it. Though I traded mine in on something a little more tour-worthy, I'd recommend the Suzuki M50 or M90. My M50 was a great bike, lots of punch, looked great and ran smooth. If it had been a little better suited to distance rides, which I'm looking to do, I would still have it instead of my adventure bike. +1 on the course from Algonquin. Definitely worth the time and money. And if you need a riding buddy, I'll hang out on your wing. ;)

If some sort of security for the ladies is being considered, which I would think there should be, I'd be willing to consider offering my time n/c. For what it's worth.

Nah, that's alright. I am at one with my fugliness, Jedi-like. :)

And, again, I\m not even trying to suggest that there IS a pandemic of illness out there in the Ottawa SP community. All I'm trying to suggest is that there is the general stigma to the industry that it is unhealthy and dangerous. It would be interesting to quantitatively and empirically disprove that propaganda, but this requires that people actually talk. Personally, I prefer safe practices because I try and minimize the risk I take for the gain (for both parties, actually.) But, I have to admit that in the few experiences I have had, the norm seems to be BBBJ offered and I almost feel sheepish to ask for the cover. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the lip on flesh feel as much as the next guy, but how does the lady know I'm safe, and how do I know the guy that came before me (pardon the pun) was?

Well, I mean, that's obvious. All I am getting at is that one of the greatest parts of the stigma of the industry is the myth that it is rife with disease and illness. Is it a myth, or is there some basis in truth? I'm not suggesting that SPs or clients are any less safe than bar patrons, but that too would be interesting to be able to see. If in fact the industry is generally safer, ie fewer reported cases (or none) of anything being passed around, it would dispel the myth. And, HPV is only one facet. It could in fact signal that there are lessons to be learned about safe sex practices that the industry could teach the "mainstream". Or it could teach us that we just have a higher threshold for accepting risk of illness, which sounds doubtful.

Better yet, I wonder what the actual prevalence is of orally transmitted STIs at all. I know there are risks, but is there actually a prevalence in the community of anything being passed around, and what are the SPs and clients doing to deal with it?

+1 On Malibu. She's truly spectacular and really sweet, too. Definitely worth the time.

Manscaping mandatory. I once read in Maxim, and the logic is inescapable, that you can't expect lips and a tongue to go where a mouthful of curlies is to be found. I've also read and can confirm for the ladies and gents that soap is a poor shaving aid. Conditioner works well, and acts to soften the skin and hair at the same time as providing a lubricant for the blade. No cuts on this bark, knock on.... erm.... wood.

Pretty sure 175 Montreal Rd is all offices now. If it's the building I'm thinking about, it's all Drs offices and medical clinics. The theatre is no longer. That would be the building with the Shoppers Drug Mart in it.

Pros: Jenna Haze, Jessica Drake, Zeina Heart (sp?), Sasha Grey Less Pro: Liz Vicious, Cherry Potter, SweetAmyLee, Melissa Doll, among others. I like the spinners I guess.

Clearly I left before the fireworks. I had no idea that things got out of hand or that we had been banned from that location. It's too bad, because it was a great spot! I really would have expected people to know better than to act in a manner that would put us in this kind of a predicament. I actually thought more than once that evening that it would be interesting to see what was going through the servers' minds.

I am totally for a regular social. If there's anything I can do to help to set it up, let me know.