Posted Jul 29th, 2011 07:28 PM

LOS ANGELES—This Saturday night's live webcast of The Dr. Susan Block Show promises to be summer-hot, soaking wet, slightly Shakespearean and super fun as we enter the enchanted forest of female ejaculation and million-dollar wood for "A Midsummer Night's WET Dream."

Joining host Dr. Susan Block in her "Womb Room" broadcast studio will be MILF porn star Deauxma, whose recent 27-squirt performance on Dr. Suzy's Spring Showers show has already "baptized" more than a million viewers; squirting "Uber Milf" Veronica Avluv; passionate porn actress Elexis Monroe; squirting cougar Delightful Debi; and polyamorous poet/ejaculatrix AfroDisiac. Balancing out all that estrogen-laced amrita, Brazzers contract star Keiran Lee, whose squirting and squirt-inducing penis will soon be insured by Lloyd's of London for a million dollars, will also join the merry band of squirting porn stars, poets, faerie queens and asses this Saturday at Dr. Suzy's Speakeasy.

Dr. Block and her guests will enjoy Doc Johnson Pocket Rockets (Drop Pocket Rockets, Not Patriot Missiles!), Screaming O Vibrating Cock Rings and Finger Vibrators, Condomania condoms, and a fine art exhibit featuring the classical erotic paintings of Scott Siedman. The Dr. Susan Block Show beverage of choice is Agwa di Bolivia Coca Leaf Liqueur, one of the many fine libations featured at the always popular Speakeasy Open Bar and Aphrodisiac Buffet.

"A Midsummer Night's WET Dream" will be webcast live July 30 from 10:30 p.m. to midnight PST on The Dr. Susan Block Show. Listen free here, or to join the live in-studio audience for "A Midsummer Night's WET Dream" and the erotic after-party at Dr. Suzy's world-famous Speakeasy in the Soul of Downtown LA, call (213) 670-0066 or click here.

Proceeds from donations go to help save the highly endangered "make love not war" bonobo chimpanzees from extinction in the Congo and to promote the Bonobo Way of peace through pleasure around the world.  Learn about the bonobos and the Bonobo Way.

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CHICAGO—In October of last year, gay content producer Flava Works filed a copyright infringement lawsuit in the Northern District of Illinois against Marques Rondale Gunter, owner and operator of "social video bookmarking" website MyVidster.com, and 26 repeat alleged infringers, named John Doe 1-26.

Wednesday, Judge John F. Grady granted Flava a preliminary injunction, and in his ruling came down hard on Gunter for failing to curb the actions of repeat infringers, including a provision that would require the defendant to “disable the accounts of users who on two or more occasions have posted content that infringes on one or more of plaintiff’s copyrights.”

But Grady was not finished, not by a long shot. In a further rebuke to the defendants on the subject of repeat infringers, the judge almost sounds angry, writing, “It is difficult for us to understand how defendants can argue with a straight face that they have adopted and reasonably implemented a ‘repeat infringer’ policy,” he wrote. “Gunter determines the policies for, and controls, myVidster. His understanding of the term ‘infringer’ does not encompass the law of copyright; he operates his site under the mistaken view that an ‘infringer’ is limited to a person who posts content that is hosted on a password protected or private website. The statute does not define the term ‘repeat infringer,’ but it is an obvious conclusion that ‘infringer’ refers at the very least to someone who infringes copyright.”

It will be interesting to see if Grady’s determination to secure a clear definition of what it means to be a “repeat infringer” will be emulated by other judges in other cases, but the question is certainly more than relevant to all such copyright infringement cases in which plaintiffs argue that the real long-term damage being done to their businesses is being caused by a relatively few people who are allowed (and often encouraged) to upload massive amounts of content without the permission of the copyright holders.

Again, in his ruling, Grady takes Gunter to task for failing to act beyond the minimum requirements of the Digital Millenium Copyright Act (DMCA).

“Gunter does not warn his users about copyright infringement (coyly instructing them not to violate ‘US law’ does not cut it),” he wrote. “He removes videos from myVidster that are listed in DMCA notices, but goes no further. Beyond his mechanical response to the notices, Gunter refuses to concern himself with copyright protection. It is true that service providers are not required to police their sites for infringement, but they are required to investigate and respond to notices of infringement—with respect to content and repeat infringers.”

Indeed, it is as if a judge has for the first time in an adult industry related case actually read the DMCA, and from that reading realized—as if through an epiphany—that it demands more than is usually required of those who seek its safe harbor protections.

After quoting from the 2003 Aimster case—(“The [DMCA] does not abolish contributory infringement. The common element of its safe harbors is that the service provider must do what it can reasonably be asked to do to prevent the use of its service by ‘repeat infringers.’”)—Grady wrote, “Gunter’s attitude is similar to that of Aimster, which the Seventh Circuit deemed an ‘ostrich-like refusal to discover the extent to which its system was being used to infringe copyright,’ noting that it was ‘another piece of evidence’ of contributory infringement.”

MyVidster, he contended, could easily have determined whether site users had posted infringing videos on two or more occasions, but instead refused to do so. Gunter, he further stated, “refuses to do so, and he refuses to acknowledge his duty to terminate the accounts of such users.”

Refusing to deal with repeat infringers is not the only reason Grady ruled in favor of Flava Works, to be sure, but it is the meat of the ruling, as indicated by the fact that the injunctive order, which needs to be submitted to the court by the plaintiff by Aug. 15, will include several requirements intended to prevent repeat infractions, including an order for MyVidster to “Adopt and reasonably implement a repeat-infringer policy with respect to the infringement of copyright,” and the requirement that the site “disable the accounts of users who on two or more occasions have posted content that infringes on one or more of plaintiff’s copyrights.”

The judge declined to accept the plaintiff’s request that MyVidster be shut down, however. Instead, Grady seemed determined to put into place provisions and requirements that, in addition to any fines levied against MyVidster, prevent the sort of repeat abuse that has thus far made them ineligible “for the user-generated-content safe harbor.”

Flava Works’ CEO Phillip Bleicher today responded to the verdict, saying, "This is a huge win for us content producers. Gunter's continued arrogance is astonishing and we are very pleased that the judge saw through his smokescreen and ruled in our favor."

The Flava Works v Gunter ruling can be accessed here.

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THE '70s—Just about everyone who's been in the adult industry for 20 years or so, and even many of its younger members, is familiar with ZAP Comix, the underground "comix" title created by artist Robert ("R.") Crumb in 1968 which went on for a total of 16 issues until its demise in 1991, along the way featuring the graphic stylings of such famous "underground" artists as S. Clay Wilson, Robert Williams, "Spain" Rodriguez, Gilbert "Wonder Warthog" Shelton, Victor Moscoso and Rick "Zippy the Pinhead" Griffin.

So it's only fitting that Fantagraphics Books, the imprint that's given us The Comics Journal magazine, Dan Clowes' graphic novel Ghost World, a hard-bound slipcover edition of Alan Moore/Dave Gibbons' Watchmen, and innumerable collections of old comic strips like Krazy Kat, Little Orphan Annie and Prince Valiant, has announced that it will be releasing a two-volume slipcover collection of the entire ZAP Comix run, including ZAP 0, published as an after-thought soon after ZAP 1 hit newsstands, and ZAM, a one-shot spinoff of ZAP published in 1974.

"ZAP may be the most significant series in the history of American comics," said Fantagraphics President and Co-Publisher Gary Groth. "Its cultural preeminence is the result of artistic merit, not collectibility or economics, and that sets it apart from most comics series that have achieved this level of public awareness or notoriety. The artists that Crumb invited into ZAP each proved to be a stylistic virtuoso with a unique point of view and an uncompromising vision. ZAP was the vanguard of a movement that segued into the alternative comics of the '80s and the graphic novels of the '00s. We couldn't be prouder to collect this landmark series in its entirety in a beautifully packaged two-volume set."

The new release was designed by Victor Moscoso—he did the wrap-around cover for ZAP 4, pictured above—and was shot from the comix's original negatives, though it will be printed slightly larger than the original comix pages.

 "I imagine most of the original readers wish they still had their copy of the first edition of ZAP #1, which sells for over ten thousand dollars now, if in perfect condition," Gilbert Shelton observed. "But part of the secret of the success of underground comix was that they were cheaply produced and turned yellow and fell apart quickly, and also that they were borrowed and never returned by one’s friends, thereby forcing you to buy another copy."

It's estimated that over its entire run, the series sold millions of copies, though its first issues were sold on the streets of Haight-Ashbury out of a baby stroller pushed by Crumb's ex-wife Dana. But as of the Fall of 2012, anyone who can ante up the likely not-inconsiderable asking price will find him/herself in possession of 800 pages of pure underground nostalgia—and adult retailers would do well to remember that many of their older customers grew up on the sexually explicit drawings of these famous artists.

This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read the FAQ at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php#publishers. Five Filters featured article: Ten Years Of Media Lens - Our Problem With Mainstream Dissidents.

Posted Jul 29th, 2011 03:28 PM

LOS ANGELES—This Saturday night's live webcast of The Dr. Susan Block Show promises to be summer-hot, soaking wet, slightly Shakespearean and super fun as we enter the enchanted forest of female ejaculation and million-dollar wood for "A Midsummer Night's WET Dream."

Joining host Dr. Susan Block in her "Womb Room" broadcast studio will be MILF porn star Deauxma, whose recent 27-squirt performance on Dr. Suzy's Spring Showers show has already "baptized" more than a million viewers; squirting "Uber Milf" Veronica Avluv; passionate porn actress Elexis Monroe; squirting cougar Delightful Debi; and polyamorous poet/ejaculatrix AfroDisiac. Balancing out all that estrogen-laced amrita, Brazzers contract star Keiran Lee, whose squirting and squirt-inducing penis will soon be insured by Lloyd's of London for a million dollars, will also join the merry band of squirting porn stars, poets, faerie queens and asses this Saturday at Dr. Suzy's Speakeasy.

Dr. Block and her guests will enjoy Doc Johnson Pocket Rockets (Drop Pocket Rockets, Not Patriot Missiles!), Screaming O Vibrating Cock Rings and Finger Vibrators, Condomania condoms, and a fine art exhibit featuring the classical erotic paintings of Scott Siedman. The Dr. Susan Block Show beverage of choice is Agwa di Bolivia Coca Leaf Liqueur, one of the many fine libations featured at the always popular Speakeasy Open Bar and Aphrodisiac Buffet.

"A Midsummer Night's WET Dream" will be webcast live July 30 from 10:30 p.m. to midnight PST on The Dr. Susan Block Show. Listen free here, or to join the live in-studio audience for "A Midsummer Night's WET Dream" and the erotic after-party at Dr. Suzy's world-famous Speakeasy in the Soul of Downtown LA, call (213) 670-0066 or click here.

Proceeds from donations go to help save the highly endangered "make love not war" bonobo chimpanzees from extinction in the Congo and to promote the Bonobo Way of peace through pleasure around the world.  Learn about the bonobos and the Bonobo Way.

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NEW YORK—You know big corporate media is hurting bad when the chief executive of one of the largest and most powerful players complains about free porn hurting the company’s bottom line, but that’s just what Time Warner Cable CEO Glenn Britt did on a conference call yesterday.

“Time Warner Cable said yesterday that its video-on-demand business dropped significantly in the last quarter,” wrote the Wall Street Journal’s Peter Kafka in his “All Things D” column. “Asked to explain where the drop came from, CEO Glenn Britt came clean, more or less—much of it is because, instead of renting 3 Way Cheating Wives in HD for $9.98, his customers are getting their fix on the Web for free.”

The Journal further quoted Britt as saying, “One of the things going on with VOD is that there [have] been fairly steady trends over some time period now for adult to go down, largely because there’s that kind of material available on the Internet for free. And that’s pretty high margin. That’s been not just this quarter, but going on for some time period.”

The article further notes that “CFO Rob Marcus said the porn gap is responsible for about a third of the drop, and that the rest is because there weren’t many big pay-per-view events like boxing matches last quarter, and because regular movie rentals are down, too.”

This turn of events is refreshing in one sense but totally frustrating in another. The fact that a Time Warner CEO has finally admitted the extent to which adult VOD matters may be a watershed moment in corporate truthiness, but it also underscores the seriousness of the free content problem and it certainly does nothing to improve anyone’s bottom line.

Still, maybe the porn conversation can now continue forward with a modicum of accuracy, and maybe now people will start believing the industry when it says that free porn is killing it! And maybe now the mainstream media will stop repeating that bullshit $12 billion annual revenue number ad nauseam.

After all, if Time Warner says it’s so …

Photo: Time Warner Cable CEO Glenn Britt

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Posted Jul 29th, 2011 12:46 PM

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y.—Magic Silk is “behind” in its thinking. That’s why the company has recently introduced Wise Cracks, a new line of bikini underwear emblazoned with provocative comments.

The garments are made from rich, black fabric, a four-way polyester/spandex blend with soft, plush logo elastic that guarantees maximum comfort. And the sexy, lo-rise styling helps to ensure that you get your point across. Fifteen different sayings are now in stock, and more are on the way. Available sizes include S/M, L/XL and Queen (for big thinkers).

This underwear is so novel that it has become an immediate best-seller for Magic Silk, according to company president Jeffrey Baker. He adds, “We are truly thinking outside the buns!”  

Wise Cracks is sold with attractive, illustrative hang tags for great hanger appeal. The line is available for immediate shipment.

Confucius once said, “Why think on feet when one can think on seat?”  Actually, he never said that, but he should have. And he would appreciate the great wisdom offered on Wise Cracks underwear.

For more information, visit MagicSilk.com.

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LOS ANGELES—Adult movie and magazine mogul Larry Flynt has confirmed that he's made an offer to Casey Anthony, the Florida mom acquitted of murdering her 2-year-old daughter Caylee and dumping the body, to appear nude in Hustler magazine (and possibly other venues) for a payment of $500,000—and possibly millions more in residuals.

"I've never been one to shy away from controversy," Flynt assured an interviewer on CNN Headline News, "because when nobody else in the country would, I published nude photos of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in 1975 and I made over $20 million off of them, so if something works, I don't have a problem doing it. Now, in the offer that we made to Casey through her attorney, the half million dollar payment's only part of it, we're willing to pay 10 percent of the profits, so if this thing goes viral, and it could be as big as everybody thinks it would, because of how big the trial is, she could make millions, more than's ever been discussed with her in any of the other possible interviews that she would be involved in."

Several sources have reported that Anthony and her attorney are actively looking for a $1.5 million payout for her first post-trial interview, and that even Anthony's parents have been offered a quarter-million to appear on a syndicated talk show.

Meanwhile, Florida prosecutors will be going to court on August 25, seeking a judge's order to force Anthony to pay at least $140,000 to cover part of the costs the Orange County Prosecutor's Office laid out to bring the woman to trial. Some of the expenses they're looking to be reimbursed for include airfares and hotel accommodations for witnesses and payments to experts—and that may not be all. Reportedly, the work done on the case by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation came to about $82,000, while the Orange County Sheriff's Department has yet to submit a total of its expenses.

Flynt wouldn't disclose whether his people had made the first move, or whether Anthony's attorney had first contacted Flynt/LFP, and in fact, told CNN that originally, he dismissed the idea of featuring the woman.

"Right after the verdict, I was asked if I wanted to do something and I felt what a lot of Americans did: Although I didn't necessarily agree with the verdict, I felt she might have been responsible for the death of her child, and I just felt that the people wouldn't necessarily want to see her with her clothes on or off," Flynt recounted. "So I kind of forgot  about the idea, but I just recently got off a book tour. Dozens of people would come up to me in Philadelphia, Austin, Houston and say, 'Why haven't you made an offer to Casey Anthony? Why don't you want to pose her pictures?' And many of them came up and asked me—would say things like, 'Look; she's a really attractive person. You don't realize this because she's been in jail, she was in a courtroom; the clothes that she was wearing, all this—a great hairstylist and makeup artist could have her looking really fabulous'."

Later, he reportedly added that the men he spoke with find her "really attractive" and "want to see her in her birthday suit... There may be some sick individuals... but that's what life is all about."

Playboy owner Hugh Hefner has received similar suggestions, telling CNN's Piers Morgan, "It is amazing the number of people that have Tweeted me immediately afterward, asking whether or not we would do a pictorial on her. And the answer is simply no. I wouldn’t reward someone like that for what has happened."

It is probably worth noting that earlier this month Vivid co-founder Steven Hirsch rescinded an offer he had made to Casey Anthony following her acquittal to star in a Vivid movie, saying, "It has become obvious to us that Vivid fans, and people in general, want nothing to do with her and that includes a XXX movie.

"We were ready to make an offer to Casey to star in one of our feature films," he added. "It's clear to me now, however, that there has been an overwhelmingly negative response to our offer and so we've decided to withdraw it."

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BEIJING—According to Reuters, the U.S. International Trade Commission said in May that Chinese piracy and counterfeiting of U.S. software and other intellectual property cost American businesses around $48 billion and 2.1 million jobs in 2009. It’s a safe bet that those figures do not include pirated porn, of which there is no doubt a lot in China.

Reports out of the great nation also indicate that the government wants its citizens to watch more homemade content, which would lead one to assume they’d try harder to stamp out pirated foreign content, but again, that probably does not hold true for porn, the production of which is officially frowned upon and punished by the government.

Whatever the true intent of the government, one might be excused for not being particularly impressed with the latest haul of counterfeited content just announced by the Chinese, which did not include any foreign content at all. According to Reuters, “China's latest crackdown on intellectual property piracy has netted more than 20,000 fake Tibetan-language text books, 90,000 copies of a well-known Chinese film as well as porn films, state media said on Friday.”

The film is Let the Bullets Fly, released in 2010 by award-winning director Jiang Wen. The text book haul was the result of an apparent scheme by a single individual to rip off schools in Tibet in 2009-10 by selling them the fake textbooks. That even happens in the States.

Details about the seized fake “porn discs” were not released. The state reported that 18 people were given various jail terms of up to six years for the contraband text books and the film, but no mention of punishment for the porn, the mention of which was probably tacked on for use in headlines.

Of course, none of this will assuage the concerns of foreign owners of intellectual property that is being illegally copied and sold in China, but maybe that’s the point.

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Posted Jul 29th, 2011 07:41 AM

CHINO, Calif.—California Exotic Novelties releases new Glow-in-the-Dark products to the popular collection. Additions include strokers, Life-Likes, and a Glow-in-the-Dark 2-Piece Harness.

Recently seen at the ANME Show, the Glow-in-the-Dark items are one of the most highly-anticipated collections in California Exotic Novelties’ Summer Release. They were displayed in the mysterious back room of the CalExotics booth where visitors saw how the luminescent items lit up the night.

“Glow-in-the-Dark items are always great sellers,” said Susan Colvin, president and CEO of California Exotic Novelties. “We’ve taken the concept further with these exciting new items, making some of them the first phthalate-free glow-in-the-dark novelties on the market.”

The Glow-in-the-Dark Strokers include: Glow Lips, Glow Pussy and Glow Tush, which are made out of Ultra Pure Skin. There are also four strokers made out of Senso Plus. Beaded Lips, Beaded Pussy, Pierced Lips, and Pierced Pussy feature a glow-in-the-dark pleasure chamber for a unique effect. The strategically placed pleasure beads make the Beaded Strokers distinctive. The two pierced strokers come complete with a silver plated stud which replicates a pierced partner.

Jackie White, vice president of sales for California Exotic Novelties, said, “These strokers offer something exciting and new for distributors and retailers. Considering the buzz they created at the ANME Show, we anticipate a big demand for them.”

The Glow-in-the-Dark Life-Likes is a combination of two great brands: Glow-in-the-Dark and Life-Likes. The Glow-in-the-Dark Life-Likes Vibrating Emperor is available in 6-inch and 8-inch sizes. A non-vibrating Emperor is also available in 6 inches and 8 inches. Additionally there is the Glow-in-the-Dark Life-Likes Front Door and Back Door. These hand sculpted, vibrating, masturbators feature teasing ticklers and pleasure nubs.

All of the Life-Likes are phthalate-free and extremely soft to the touch.  They are made in the USA and are all made out of Safe and Pure material.

Al Bloom, director of marketing for California Exotic Novelties, added, “Quality material is important to today’s savvy consumer. We’re dedicated to making products with Safe and Pure materials. The Safe and Pure logo means that the item is either phthalate-free or it complies with the European Directive 2005/84/EC regarding the safe use of softeners.”

The Glow-in-the-Dark 2-Piece Harness rounds out the new additions to the Glow-in-the-Dark Collection. Premium, soft and supple leather makes this universal harness comfortable and durable. The hand-sculpted, curved, Glo-Rider dong is removable and flanged for a secure fit. It fits most dongs and the fully adjustable harness stretches to fit the body.

The Glow-in-the-Dark products are in stock now and ready to ship from California Exotic Novelties. For more information, or to place an order, visit CalExotics.com.

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Posted Jul 28th, 2011 06:45 PM

LOS ANGELES—Peepstar has announced the launch of its technology that connects fans to their favorite porn stars utilizing social networks. 

Peepstar aims to create a brand new revenue stream for adult performers using social media similar to Twitter and Facebook.

Each performer or studio obtains a channel at Peepstar.com that collects “Followers,” much like Twitter. Fans pay a monthly fee per performer; in exchange, their favorite star will text or email short sexy personal erotic videos to cell phones via QuickTime format. The business model is a rev share between the performer and Peepstar like a webcam platform, the company said.

“The buzz over the signup frenzy has been amazing,” said 10-year adult industry veteran Sancho, vice president and operations manager of Peepstar. “A great thing about Peepstar is that it doesn’t compete with anything. We invite all the stars to use Peepstar to promote themselves, their websites, movies, live chats, appearances, social media—whatever the performers are doing, we want them to promote on their Peepstar channel, and above all have fun and make money.”

Peepstar currently is signing up adult performers to “Peep” on the new network. “We invite agents and managers to sign up their talent; we will be sharing a recurring percentage with anyone who brings stars to sign up,” Sancho continued. “Our first month, we are offering special promotions to the first fans to sign up. We will sponsor monthly contests with cash prizes to the stars who ‘peep’ the most.’

Peepstar.com officially launches tomorrow and will exhibit at Adultcon tomorrow through Sunday at the L.A. Convention Center. Adult stars Dana DeArmond, Phoenix Marie, Sarah Jessie, Tiffany Brookes, Jazmin Jarako and Allison Moore will be signing at the company’s booth.

New talent can sign up at the exhibitor booth right on the spot at Adultcon, or by clicking here.  

For more Peepstar info, email info@peepstar.com. 

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WASHINGTON, D.C.—H.R. 1981, a controversial bill that has prompted the Electronic Frontier Foundation and 29 other civil liberties and consumer advocacy groups to pen a collective letter to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee opposing its passage, was approved this afternoon by the committee in a 19-10 vote. A Senate version (S. 1308) was introduced June 30 by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah).

As reported previously by AVN, The Protecting Children From Internet Pornographers Act of 2011, which among other things mandates that ISPs retain subscribers' IP addresses for 18 months for the purpose of aiding law enforcement in the fight against child pornography, appeared to be in trouble when it was criticized by the original author of the Patriot Act, Rep James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis), who said, “This does not strike at the problem in an effective manner, and it runs roughshod over the privacy rights of people who use the Internet for thousands of lawful purposes.” He adding that it “ought to be defeated and put in the dustbin of history.”

Sensenbrenner was hardly alone in his criticism. According to EFF, “These [IP] addresses can be used to identify you personally online and, when the right information is stored, may be used to track what websites you visit and what content you post. When access to such valuable information is made readily available, the data becomes ripe for abuse by law enforcement officials. It is particularly troublesome because the laws designed to protect the private data of consumers from government access are insufficient and out-of-date—creating a perfect storm for government abuse.”

Committee member Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) during a debate before the vote referred to the bill as a "stalking horse for a massive expansion of federal power.”

And Greg Nojeim, senior counsel for the Center for Democracy and Technology, said, "This is China-style law enforcement, treating everyone as a potential suspect and requiring the collection of personal information just in case it might later be useful to the government.”

Unfortunately, none of those arguments ultimately prevented the committee from approving H.R 1981 for consideration by the full House.

Of course, when it comes to sex the government has never had a problem lumping everyone into a one-size-fits-all, you-might-be-a-criminal box. The 2257 federal labeling and record keeping requirements, which force all producers and disseminators of adult content to keep records that show the age and identity of the performers being displayed, makes a similar assumption.

With respect to H.R. 1981, however, the group of impacted individuals has been expanded to include … well, everyone who surfs the internet, under the rubric of protection children. (What else?) With respect to either group—web surfers or adult content producers—the argument by supporters of the bill is the same as it always with bills that chip away at civil liberties and quaint notions of privacy: If you’re not doing anything wrong, you have nothing to worry about.

According to Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas), who co-sponsored the measure with Florida Democrat Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, "Investigators need the assistance of ISPs to identify users and distributors of online child pornography. This bill ensures that the online footprints of predators are not erased."

In bypassing due process in favor of an expedited method for law enforcement to track who you are and where you go online, H.R. 1981 contains no provisions that ensure that child pornography will not be the only reasons why your records are not forked over by your service provider.

Interestingly, considering their traditional attitude against government intervention, remarks in support of the bill by Michael Powell, president of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association, which represents ISPs such as Comcast Corp. and Time Warner Cable Inc., do little to assuage fears regarding this assault on anonymous web surfing.

But then, anonymity on the web is precisely what some lawmakers want to prevent as they pass ever-intrusive laws that turn the internet’s gate keepers into Big Brother’s little helpers. Similarly, corporations such as Comcast and Time Warner, which are not only ISPs but also significant content producers, have every reason to want to overlay a level of control onto the internet that will change its original premise (and promise) forever.

Hopefully, the Constitution will have something to say about that, assuming it is properly interpreted by the Supreme Court justices.

Gulp.

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LOS ANGELES—One might think that with the blockbuster dissection of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health's (LADPH) pronouncements on sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the adult content industry by renown epidemiologist and biostatistician Dr. Lawrence S. Mayer of the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, that one of the primary subjects of that dissection—Dr. Peter Kerndt—wouldn't have the moxie to continue to spout his falsehoods to the public, much less the scientific community.

But in a paper co-authored by Kerndt published this month in the journal Sexually Transmitted Diseases, that's exactly what they do—and needless to say, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), which this week appealed its losing condom lawsuit against LADPH to the California Supreme Court, lauds them for it.

The paper, "High Chlamydia and Gonorrhea Incidence and Reinfection Among Performers in the Adult Film Industry [AFI]," was also co-authored by LADPH epidemiologist Binh Y. Goldstein, Ph.D. and County Health employees Jane K. Steinberg, Ph.D. and Getahun Aynalem, M.D., and the misinformation begins in the article's first paragraph.

"Since the legalization of adult (X-rated) ?lm production in the State of California in 1988 with the California Supreme Court’s ruling in People v. Freeman," the article begins, "the adult ?lm industry (AFI) has expanded tremendously and is estimated to have gross revenues nearly of $13 billion annually."

The $13 billion figure was taken from a January, 2007 New York Times article, and since the actual gross revenue figure in 2011 is closer to half that amount, it's a good indicator of the level of scholarship and research which has gone into the paper, which was accepted for publication in December, 2010.

But the misinformation keeps on coming!

"The director of a clinic, which provides the majority of STD testing for performers, stated that 'an average popular male in the industry, through partner-to-partner-to-partner transmission, reaches approximately 198 people in 3 days'," the article claims. "Although the total population of performers at any one time may appear small, they have a very large sexual network and serve as a bridge population for STD transmission to and from the general population."

Leaving aside the absurdity that one performer passing an STD to another during one shoot on one day could exponentially spread it to 198 performers in three days, the claim that the performer population has "a very large sexual network" that could transmit STDs to and from the Los Angeles population at large is ludicrous. While some performers have boyfriends/girlfriends or spouses outside the industry, the majority don't, and when performers "work private," the rule is that they use condoms because they don't want to bring any diseases from outside the industry in. After all, since the overwhelming majority of LA residents have never been tested for an STD, and have no idea whether they're infected with one or not, performers—who are tested monthly—know enough not to trust the odds with non-industry partners.

And of course, the lack of STD testing in the general population was one of the main thrusts of Dr. Mayer's study.

"[A]s Dr. Mayer analyzes the data provided by Drs. Kim-Farley and Kerndt," AVN previously noted, "the prevalence of STDs among the performer population 'appears to use all positive tests in the numerator, but does not take into account the number of tests the subjects received. AFI performers are tested every four weeks. Kim?Farley and Kerndt, lacking a denominator, used an estimate of number of AFI performers (2000 or 3000) when they should have used an estimate of the number of tests given to the performers. The two methodologies yield very different results.'"

The article's authors also claim, citing testimony that AIM director Dr. Sharon Mitchell alleged gave to a California legislative committee, that "Between 1998 and 2008, 17 HIV cases were reported among performers," but aside from that being a misinterpretation of Mitchell's testimony, the time span used includes infections that took place before AIM was even formed, and when "regular testing" in the industry was more prayer than fact—and what testing there was, was the nearly-useless Eliza test, which can take months to show a positive result.

The bulk of the journal article is then taken up with attempting to apply STD statistics reported to the LADPH STD Surveillance Registry between 2004 and 2008 of infections among (hetero) adult performers (since gay performers did not regularly test at AIM or similar clinics during that period) to the incidence of STD infections in the general population. However, Dr. Mayer exposed the absurdity of attempting such comparisons.

"It must be noted that his [LADPH's Dr. Robert Kim-Farley's] estimation of the prevalence is based on the false assumption that performers are never re?infected nor re?tested within any one year," Dr. Mayer analyzed. "He could have estimated the rates of re?infection and re?testing and adjusted for both although it would lead to a less startling, albeit more accurate, result. The oversight is particularly bothersome and misleading because the AFI performers are re?tested as many as 12 times a year or more. It would be rare indeed for randomly chosen member  of the public to be tested so often."

Hence, without getting into more detail than necessary here, the figures reached by Drs. Goldstein et al in their journal article for chlamydia and gonorrhea infections among performers from 2004 to 2007—a total of 2633 cases—are simply unbelievable, as Dr. Mayer explained in great detail in his report, which is linked at the bottom of AVN's article.

But in reliance on their faulty data, Drs. Goldstein et al nonetheless manage to come to the expected conclusions:

"In summary, this analysis provides evidence that the burden of [chlamydia and gonorrhea] among AFI performers is unacceptably high and that testing alone is not suf?cient for controlling the spread of STDs within this industry...," the authors state. "The industry fears that use of condoms in ?lms will result in a loss of revenue. However, Wicked Pictures, one of the longest running and largest production companies, is condom-only, and Brazil, the world’s second largest AFI, has a condom usage rate of 80%, suggesting that use of condom in adult ?lms does not necessarily mean a decrease in pro?ts. Furthermore, ?esh tone-colored condoms or digital removal of condoms post-production can also be done to minimize their appearance. In addition to the use of barriers, the following strategies can be adopted by the industry to increase performer protection: (1) mandatory labeling of adult ?lms that state whether the ?lm was produced pursuant to OSHA requirements; (2) prohibit distribution and sales of adult ?lms produced in violation of OSHA requirements to hotels, cable television content providers, and others in commercial settings; and (3) more vigorous enforcement of OSHA occupational standards to reduce exposure to infectious diseases."

Of course, Dr. Kerndt was present at the first CalOSHA subcommittee meeting where condoms in the industry were discussed, and undoubtedly heard Wicked Pictures Vice President Joy King tell the subcommittee that sales of its products had been enormously adversely affected by its condom-only policy, while as any industry insider knows, the market for Brazilian XXX product in the U.S. is vanishingly small. And considering the budgets of most adult movie productions, the suggestion that condoms could be digitally removed from the action, at a cost of thousands of dollars per second, is laughably ignorant.

It remains to be seen whether CalOSHA will be able to implement the authors' suggestions that adult product be forced to carry labels regarding whether they're OSHA compliant, or whether the state can prevent hotels, cable providers or "others in commercial settings"—retailers and e-tailers???—from selling non-compliant material... and considering California's current operating budget, the likelihood that CalOSHA will be able to "vigorously enforce[]" its standards remains to be seen.

Additionally, it is interesting that news of the Goldstein article's publication is being released now, within one day of the Los Angeles Times reporting that the Adult Performer Health Safety & Services performer database will soon be up and running—a report which includes a quote from AHF president Michael Weinstein that he "disagree[s] with" the reality that "testing is a safety net"—and within one day of AHF's announcement that it would petition the California Supreme Court to overturn the Court of Appeals' ruling that LADPH could not be forced to inspect every adult movie set to make sure condoms, dental dams, etc. were being used.

And it's hardly a surprise that Weinstein and his group would unquestioningly accept the Goldstein, et al report, claiming in a press release, "Not only do these findings directly contradict claims by the adult film industry that STD rates are lower among performers than among the general population, it also destroys the industry’s argument that regular STD and HIV testing is a replacement for condoms. The only way to prevent such high infection and re-infection rates among porn performers is the enforcement of California worker safety laws that require condom use on set."

Or as Sam Elliott's character remarked in the movie Roadhouse, "Different day, same story, eh, boss?"

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SAN FRANCISCO—A fundraiser for adult starlet Hollie Stevens is set to take place Friday night at a private location in San Francisco, with proceeds going to aid Stevens in her current fight against breast cancer. The theme of the event: lingerie roller skating.

Sponsors include Babeland Toys and Solace SF, and a silent auction will be open to attendees for donated items, including Stevens-autographed copies of JacktheZipper's Enter the Peepshow, Jim Powers' Charlie's Porno Adventure and Girls and Corpses magazine, as well as photo prints by Chuck Stevens and Bob Coulter, and art prints by Hollie Stevens herself. There will also be giveaways provided by Throx and Severe Society Films.

Admission to the event is $15, and tickets must be purchased in advance, as none will be offered at the door. For more information click here.

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SAN DIEGO—Following his guilty plea in 2008 and subsequent incarceration for possession of child pornography, Vietnam War veteran Wade Sanders has had his Silver Star revoked by Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus. However, the reason for the revocation, which the Marine Corps Times calls “highly unusual,” may or may not have been related to the conviction. The Navy has thus far refused to say what prompted the review of Sanders’ Silver Star, which was awarded him over 20 years ago, or the reason it was taken away.   

If Sanders’ name sounds familiar to some, it should. The former swift-boat captain once served as deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for Reserve Affairs, and during the 2004 presidential campaign was a frequent spokesperson for Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., who was being aggressively attacked at the time by other swift-boat veterans who claimed the senator had exaggerated his wartime exploits.

Sanders pleaded guilty in 2008 to one count of possession of child pornography. The 70-year-old is currently serving out a 37-month sentence at a minimum-security federal penitentiary in Anthony, Texas, where he has been incarcerated since July 2009, according to the Marine Corps Times, and is expected to be released in March.

According to UPI, "U.S. prosecutors said Sanders kept more than 600 images of child pornography on his computer. Prosecutors said he also kept a 21-minute video showing prepubescent girls having sex with an adult male." Sanders has consistently claimed his innocence of the allegation, despite having pleaded guilty to the one count in 2008, explaining that he was researching child exploitation for a book.

The reason for the revocation of Sanders’ Silver Star remains mired in mystery, however, and even the military news outlet reports that it is “not clear whether Sanders’ conviction played a role in him losing his Silver Star.”

Secretary Mabus signed a memorandum revoking Sanders’ award in August 2010 following a review and recommendation by the Navy Department Board of Medals and Decorations, but the Navy has since refused to release the memo, which was “addressed to the chief of naval personnel, who in turn would be responsible for the administrative actions to pull the award from official naval records,” the Marine Corps Times reported.

A statement by a spokesperson for Secretary Mabus only adds more mystery to the decision. The spokesperson, Capt. Pamela Kunze, said of the revocation, “Had the subsequently determined facts and evidence surrounding both the incident for which the award was made and the processing of the award itself been known to the secretary of the Navy in 1992, those facts would have prevented the award of the Silver Star.”

However, Kunze declined to explain why the review was ordered in the first place and what “subsequently determined facts” arose. If the child porn conviction had any bearing, Kunze has remained mum about that, as well.

Considering how rarely military commendations are revoked, the Navy’s reluctance to explain its rationale is more than a little odd. According to Doug Sterner, a Vietnam vet and curator of the Military Times Hall of Valor database, the action take by Mabus is practically unprecedented.

“I’ve never heard of it,” he said, adding, “I’m sure it’s happened, but this actually shows how rare it is.”

According to Marine Corps Times, “Sterner said he knows only of 17 revocation cases involving Navy personnel, and they predate World War I. Most of the 17 cases involve sailors who deserted or had other misconduct that caused the Navy to revoke the Medal of Honor, which at the time was given largely as a peacetime award and in most cases ‘had nothing to do with valor.’”

Interviewed by the Marine Corps Times this month, Sanders reiterated his claim that he is not a pedophile. He also said he remained proud of his 29 ½ years of active and reserve service, and did not fault Mabus for his action revoking the Silver Star. He had also been the recipient of a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart.

“[The awards] don’t belong to me,” he said. “They were bestowed to me. The only medal that I actually earned ... was the Purple Heart.”

Photo: Wade Sanders

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Posted Jul 28th, 2011 02:34 PM

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y.—Wet and wild, the Liquid Onyx collection has been one of Magic Silk’s best selling categories for two years running. And the manufacturer knows just what to do with a successful line—expand it.

Liquid Onyx garments represent the perfect fusion of style and comfort. They offer the scintillatingly sexy “wet look” of leather and the comfort and breathability of spandex. 

Five new styles have been added, among them a half-cup padded bra and gartered boy short set, three corsets and a short/crop top set adorned with decorative rings. Other available decorations include chains and functional zippers.

All styles are available in three sizes: S/M, L/XL and queen size (fits 1X-3X). They are sold in the company’s upscale Exposed packaging decorated with bold graphics and bright colors.

Liquid Onyx is available for immediate shipment. Additional information can be obtained at MagicSilk.com.

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Posted Jul 28th, 2011 01:30 PM

LOS ANGELES—Adult star Raylene has launched her own production company, Raylene Live, and secured distribution through Exile Distribution. The Raylene Diaries: Unfiltered, the company’s first release, is set to debut Aug. 24.

Drawing on her experience forming the company, The Raylene Diaries: Unfiltered, tracks Raylene in reality-style footage shot by veteran director Beth Ann Raphael, her partner in the production company. The movie also marks the star’s directorial debut.

“This movie is based on my real-life experiences—almost like BTS style,” Raylene told AVN. “I think it’s fun, honest and more interesting than just a typical adult movie scenario. I wanted to give my fans a more intimate look into my life.”

Raylene appears throughout the movie, including performing in three girl/girl scenarios with Ann Marie Rios, Sarah Vandella and Samantha Ryan. She’s also in a B/G/G threeway with Rios and real-life busband Ethan Hawk. The movie also features Georgia Jones, Michelle Lay, Zoe Britton and Francesca Le.

It’s been quite a journey for Raylene in adult throughout her time in the business that dates back to 1996 when she became a Vivid Girl. In 2001 she began a successful career in real estate, and returned to performing in 2009 for Vivid and others. She now performs exclusively for her new company, Raylene.com and her Streamate live-cam site in which she performs almost daily girl/girl shows. 

“Starting this company is a newer idea of mine, but I always wanted to direct,” she said. “I talked about it with [Vivid co-founder] Steve Hirsch when I was under contract, but circumstances changed, then I left the business, and now, it was just time.”

The decision to go with Exile for distribution was an easy one. Raylene has a longstanding relationship with sales head Howard Levine, dating back to their time with Vivid.

“Howard is great and I know he will give my movies the attention they deserve,” Raylene said. “We’ve known each other for a while and I think it’ll be a good relationship.”

Future plans for Raylene Live call for her to draw on her experience in world of real estate. Raylene’s Raunchy Realtors is up next from the company.

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Posted Jul 28th, 2011 12:31 PM

CHATSWORTH, Calif.—Pipedream Products has launched PDTV, a dedicated area of its website showcasing more than 1,000 short-form product demonstration videos. The newly upgraded PDTV video player allows for sharing and embedding of the videos directly from PipedreamProducts.com instead of through public “tube” sites—as they were shared previously.

“The videos have always been hosted on our own server, but until now, people had to use Vimeo or YouTube embed codes to share them,” explained Nick Orlandino, CEO of Pipedream Products. “With PDTV, all products that have a demonstration video can be found and shared with a couple clicks of your mouse. Its just one more way we’re working hard to make things easier for our valued customers.”

A new Excel spreadsheet—similar to those broken down by catalog or as a complete collection—is available for all items featured on PDTV. Additionally, Orlandino said the new video player and file format used for PDTV is more mobile device friendly.

“It has always been important for Pipedream to remain on the cutting edge of technology and PDTV is no exception,” he said. “In 2011 time is more valuable than ever and our new mobile friendly video format will benefit not only traveling sales representatives but anyone who has an iPhone, iPad or similar mobile device.”

All product demonstration videos are available to download. Questions about PDTV should be directed to info@pipedreamproducts.com.

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EASTERN EUROPE—Alki David, the British billionaire actor, director, producer and operator of FilmOn.com, has entered uncharted territory with his decision to live broadcast the assisted suicide of a terminally ill Russian man July 29 on BattleCam.com, David’s reality TV website. The location of the streamed event will also be at an undisclosed location in Eastern Europe. 

The Russian, Nikolai Ivanisovich, who has been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, “will receive a lethal injection, administered by a physician who has decided to remain anonymous,” reported ShockYa.com. “The doctor doesn’t want their identity revealed because of the ‘mitigating circumstance and likely media attention this event may generate.’”

According to David, who lives on the Greek island of Spetses, BattleCam members will decide whether they want to see the suicide or not through the use of a “unique voting system” incorporated into the site that David says is creating “a new form of interactive special interest.”

Though at first the idea of streaming a suicide live on such a platform might seem to be an exploitive and cynical use of new technology, as David tells it, the idea did not originate with him but with the Ivanisovich family.

“Originally, I was approached by one of my staff to help Nikolai out with medical expenses,” he told AVN. “I did so. We exchanged some emails and that was it. Once his health started to deteriorate his wife Uryna asked me to pay for his assisted end of life. It was her suggestion in fact that we stream it. So I agreed. Most of the great ideas on BattleCam come from the community on it.”

In an interview conducted in Russia, where he lives, Ivanisovish said he was “grateful to Mr. David and his team for making this possible. My family will be able to live in prosperity after I pass. May God bless Mr. David for his kindness and generosity.”

Despite telling ShockYa.com, “I find nothing wrong with this at all. Death is a fact of life and physician assisted suicide in the United States is legal in the States of Oregon, Montana and Washington,” David told AVN that he has “no political or social ideology on the issue of legal suicide. I am not that smart or opinionated.”

In a sense, it seems the decision to stream the suicide engages three of David's main interests. The initial impetus was to help a family in need, but it was also an opportunity to provide an “interesting spectacle” to viewers of BattleCam while fulfilling David’s conception of BattleCam as a “social experiment.”

The site, he said, “generates zero revenue, and even though I have developed some interesting ideas to commercialize it, it is really just my favorite toy. It is here forever. All the members of BattleCam make the site interesting and compelling and it really has grown into a fascinating community. Cynics would say [it is populated by] degenerates and low lifes, but I totally disagree. Not only do I know some very influential and even famous people who frequent BC incognito, but comments like that put me in the same group!”

Still, the all-too-human issues that surround the live streaming of an assisted suicide are not lost on David, who responded affirmatively when asked whether he would consider similar pleas that might come his way.

 “I am open to similar requests, sure!” he told AVN.

Photo: Alki David

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Posted Jul 28th, 2011 10:09 AM

BOCA RATON, Fla.—Penthouse has officially entered the world of sexual supplements with the launch of Penthouse Shots, liquid enhancers that claim to “ignite sexual wellness.”

The shots were developed in a partnership between Penthouse and Prestige Imports, and they have been in development for 18 months the companies stated in a release.

The drinks are to be consumed 20 minutes prior to sexual activity and users should not consume more than two bottles per day.

Pleasure Shots for women are designed to encourage a pleasurable response in females by combining natural aphrodisiac herbs with body building vitamins.

Per4mance Shots for men are designed to improve the sexual experience for men.

For more information, visit PrestigeImportsLLC.com.

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Posted Jul 28th, 2011 07:47 AM

AUSTIN, Texas—The makers of Fleshjack have launched their newest creation, the Sword by Fleshjack.

Still made with Fleshlight's patented Superskin material, the all new texture inside is enclosed in a squeezable case. This soft case allows you to grip as hard as you want, creating an entirely new Fleshjack sensation.

The Sword by Fleshjack resembles the original line of Fleshjack brand products, and it contains an end cap to control suction.

The Sword by Fleshjack retails for $59.95.

For more information, visit Fleshjack.com.

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LOS ANGELES—The Entertainment Merchants Association (EMA) won a Supreme Court victory in its First Amendment case against a California law that banned the sale of violent video games to minors—and now its attorneys want the high court to make the state pony up in excess of $1 million in legal fees for forcing the association to fight the onerous law all the way up the legal ladder.

Terming the fee motion a "highly unusual plea," legal analyst Lyle Denniston reported on SCOTUSblog.com while "the custom in American law is for each side to pay its own legal fees in a lawsuit ... federal laws, including a civil rights law relied upon in this new motion, sometimes allow a 'prevailing party' to recover its fees from the losing side."

There's no doubt that the EMA's attorneys, the prominent D.C. firm of Jenner & Block, have a good case, considering that California's attempt to limit non-obscene speech to minors would have required the Supreme Court to carve out a new exception to the First Amendment's unqualified ban on laws "abridging freedom of speech, or of the press."

Indeed, the fee motion states that, "California persisted in defending a law that [the industry] warned the Legislature was unconstitutional before it was passed; that was previously found to be unconstitutional by the district court and a unanimous panel of the Ninth Circuit and that is similar to at least eight other laws invalidated as unconstitutional prior to the time that California sought certiorari in this case.  Despite all of this, California chose to seek further review in this Court, and this Court has now confirmed the act's unconstitutionality."

Part of the recovery sought by Jenner & Block is the expense for staging a "moot court" prior to the actual Supreme Court argument, for which the firm hired former U.S. Solicitors General Paul D. Clement and Theodore B. Olson, both Republicans, and First Amendment specialist Lee Levine to prepare the arguing attorneys. However, the fee motion is careful to point out that, "The fees charged by these firms were based on the standard billing rates they customarily charge clients and encompassed only the handful of hours required to review the briefs and participate in the moot court."

"The standard manual on Supreme Court practice, popularly known as Stern and Gressman ... says explicitly that these federal fee-shifting laws 'may encompass attorneys' fees incurred in connection with Supreme Court cases'," Denniston wrote. "The manual cites a 1970 precedent, Perkins v. Standard Oil, as directing a lower court—when the case was returned there—to consider a possible fee shift for the Supreme Court work." He goes on to note that while fee-shifting requests are common in lower courts, they're much more rare in cases that reach the Supreme Court.

However, an example of a similar fee request occurred in Free Speech Coalition v. Ashcroft, the 2002 Child Pornography Prevention Act case, where FSC attorney H. Louis Sirkin sought attorney fees from the government after the high court struck down the concept of "virtual child porn"—but the request was made to the trial court in San Francisco, not to the Supreme Court itself.

What the Supremes will think of the unusual (and unusually high) fee request remains to be seen, and Denniston noted that, " It is unknown whether the fact that the Supreme Court agreed to hear the state's appeal—something it had the discretion not to do—would play a part in its consideration of the motion."

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Posted Jul 27th, 2011 04:18 PM

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—From Charlotte Bronte and Shakespeare to television's The Ghost Whisperer, paranormal activity has fueled the romance genre for centuries. Now, Wicked Pictures and AVN award-winning actor/director Barrett Blade are putting a decidedly adult spin on this time-honored tradition with the haunting new couples feature Eternal. Starring AVN Award-winning Wicked Girl Kaylani Lei, this all-new DVD goes into nationwide release this week.

As Blade's tale begins, Lei, a romance novelist, moves into a haunted old home to work on her next best seller, only to quickly become embroiled in a supernatural tryst with a spectral paramour who takes her to greater heights of passion than she's ever experienced. Her ghostly lover's insatiable desires literally begin to consume her as he attempts to revive the memory of his beloved. Their forbidden passion gives her both the greatest story of her career and the secret to finding true love in the process.

This haunting premise frames an incendiary procession of erotic encounters, all deftly directed by Blade, who backs Kaylani's incendiary performance with a carefully chosen supporting cast comprised of such A-list adult luminaries as 2011 AVN Best Actress India Summer, Victoria White, Lizz Tayler, Dane Cross, Derrick Pierce, Michael Vegas and Marcus London.

Shot and edited in widescreen 16x9 HD, the Eternal DVD includes a special bonus sex scene with Kaylani, a hot hardcore still gallery, and a stylish O-card featuring the curvaceous Ms. Lei in sensual repose. 

As Poe declared, real love lives forever, in "ethereal dances, by eternal streams." So join Kaylani Lei for a hauntingly adult take on the supernatural in Eternal, coming this week only from Wicked Pictures.

Click here for a gallery of images from Eternal.

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SACRAMENTO—AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) filed a petition with the California Supreme Court Tuesday seeking not only a review of the organization’s loss on appeal of its attempt to force the courts to compel Los Angeles County’s health officer to mandate the use of condoms on porn sets, but also a clarification of what AHF says are differing interpretations among courts of appeal regarding “the scope of a state court’s mandamus powers.”

In its petition, however, AHF takes great liberties with its characterization of the situation facing porn performers with respect to sexually transmitted diseases, calling it at various places in the document an “outbreak,” “crisis” and “epidemic” that has been acknowledged by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, the very same entity, by the way, that AHF claims is being derelict in its duty to address the ten year so-called “epidemic.”

Indeed, throughout this bizarre document, AHF is dependent upon statistics culled by the Los Angeles County Health Department to support its contentions regarding the STD “epidemic” in the adult industry, begging the question (never answered, by the way) why such extraordinary legal measures needed to be taken to compel the Department to enact mandatory condom policies in the first place.

As readers of AVN should know well by now, however, AHF and its head, Michael Weinstein, are pathologically myopic when it comes to condom use as the ONLY protection against the spread of STDs. That was reinforced again today, in an article in the Los Angeles Times on the launch of the new Adult Performer Health and Safety Services (APHSS) testing service for performers, in which Weinstein is quoted as saying, “The Free Speech Coalition continues to maintain that testing is a safety net. That, we disagree with.”

Such a blanket denial of even the partial effectiveness of testing as a way not only to prevent the spread of STDs but also to track impacted performers in the event of an infection, while regarding the use of condoms as more than sufficient to prevent the spread of STDs, can only be seen as selective and self-serving thinking on the part of AHF.

Compare that opinion with that of FSC, which supports and encourages the voluntary use of condoms on set by performers in tandem with a rigorous testing regime and database, and it comes quickly clear with association truly has the interests of the performers in mind. AHF, of course, does not consider adult performers to be adults capable of making their own decisions, but rather sees them as children being exploited by porn producers with no regard for the safety of the actors. In their worldview, the situation is so dire that it requires the courts to compel the County to force producers to require that performers  use "barrier protection"—condoms, dental dams, latex gloves, face shields—at all times, in every circumstance.

How bad, according to the AHF petition, is the situation?

“From April 2004 to March 2008, there were ‘'2,847 STD infections diagnosed among 1,884 performers’ in the hardcore pornography industry in Los Angeles County,” AHF claims in the petition’s statement of facts, adding, “DPH acknowledges that there have been multiple outbreaks of HIV within the hardcore pornography industry since 1995.”

As AVN has reported many times over the years, however, the County’s data with respect to industry infections and so-called outbreaks has itself been fatally flawed, the result of the Department’s own years-long campaign to paint the industry as incapable of providing an effective and reasonable regime of protection for performers, and thus a necessary candidate for oversight by the County. The County's data were called into question earlier this year by renowned epidemiologist Dr. Lawrence S. Mayer in a report prepared at the behest of FSC.

But the petition also claims that the High Court must compel the lower courts to intervene because the failure by the County to act is putting the general public at risk, as well as the target industry.

“The issues at stake affects the health of all Californians,” AHF claims with characteristic hyperbole. “The [California Health and Safety Code] statutes in question involve the duty of public health officers to protect the public from the spread of communicable diseases in general, and sexually transmitted diseases in particular. Everyone in the state will benefit from this Court's opinion on the extent to which county departments of public health are immune from judicial scrutiny with respect to the actions the agencies takes (or will not take) to fulfill their statutory duty to combat the spread of communicable diseases in the face of a widely acknowledged epidemic.”

The petitioners further rejected the lower and appeals court view that the statutes in question give the health officer “considerable discretion” regarding what measures to take to “reasonably” prevent the spread of contagious and communicable diseases in general, and prevent the spread of infectious venereal diseases in particular.

“The court concluded that mandamus will lie only to correct an asserted abuse of discretion when the agency has ‘failed to act’ and its failure is arbitrary, beyond the bounds of reason, or in derogation of applicable standards,” read the petition. “In such a case, mandamus will lie only to compel the exercise of discretion.”

Claiming that the parameters of writ of mandamus are hardly settled law, AHF claims, “Here, where a law requires a public officer to take all measures reasonably necessary to combat a public health crisis, is it the province of the court to say whether the officer's measures do, in fact, sufficiently fulfill the agency's statutory duty? Certainly courts are capable of making that determination.”

In fact, the concept of mandamus is fairly simple. Literally, "We command," it is, legally speaking, a judicial writ issued as a command to an inferior court or ordering a person to perform a public or statutory duty.

In actuality, AHF is asking the Supreme Court to make that determination for the courts, or at least for those, such as the Second Circuit, which took a more liberal view of the discretionary authority afforded a public servant such as a health officer. However, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has stated that it had long ago relinquished its power over enforcement of the California Health Code to the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (CalOSHA), and to date, the courts have abided by that agreement.

It remains to be seen, of course, whether the state Supremes agree that a serious enough impasse exists between the will of the legislature—expressed in the language of the statutes it passes—and the manner in which the statutes are being enforced by the city, county or state such that the safety of its citizens is being put at risk to such an extent that the courts need to be given additional authority to dictate their actions.

While it was apparent from the language of the appeals court ruling that it took certain offence at the hubris exhibited by AHF that it seriously expected the courts to use their authority to make the county abide by AHF’s interpretation of the law, it is equally clear from this petition that AHF in fact believes that it does in fact have the legal, statutory and moral authority to compel just about anyone or any official entity to bow to its will.

It is possible, of course, that the justices of the California Supreme Court will be so impressed by AHF’s continuing and escalating arrogance that it rules in its favor, but also unlikely. Tyranny, it should be remembered, comes in small AHF-sized packages as well as in large government-sized packages, and each is to be avoided at all costs.

In response to a request for comment, FSC executive director Diane Duke commented, "The County itself said that this is a 'nonissue' in their response to the lawsuit. Courts have twice said that LA County cannot be required to regulate adult productions. Data shows that our performers rates of STI’s are much lower than those of similar populations, and FSC comissioned a report that was entered into record with Cal/OSHA disputing AHF's claims about STI rates. AHF continues to waste valuable resources promoting their self-aggrandizing efforts" 

The AHF Supreme Court petition can be accessed here.

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Posted Jul 27th, 2011 03:02 PM

TEL-AVIV, Israel—Joya has done some revamping lately, including a name change and a new product line up.

Once known as Joya4U, the company has adopted the simpler Joya moniker. Additionally, after a few years of loving Little Su's image and unique package design, the company has said goodbye to the perennial favorite to make way for fresher and more impactful package branding.

Joya has announced that all of the company’s products are now available in a unisex package that features a see-through window and the colors black and purple, designed to match the color of the product inside.

The packaging still provides the detailed informational sheets that were the hallmark of the old packaging, and are shipping now with the Joya Tulip Silicone Vibrator, Joya Natural Silicone Dildo and Joya Sphere Intimate Massager.

For more details, contact sales@joya4u.com.

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Posted Jul 27th, 2011 12:41 PM

CANOGA PARK, Calif.—Free Speech Coalition (FSC), the adult industry trade association has announce four testing facilities that will participate in the Adult Production Health & Safety Services program (APHSS).

The program has been developed with the help of legal and medical experts, as well as industry members. It will be administrated by Free Speech Coalition as a resource to fill the gap left by the closure of the AIM clinic.

APHSS.org has four recommended testing facilities, locally and nationwide. Performers that test at these facilities will have their work availability results entered into the APHSS.org database. Producers and agents can then verify a performer’s availability status through the database.

Primex Lab is located 16742 Stagg St., #120, Van Nuys, CA, and has draw stations throughout California and Nevada. Performers that have a prescription can go to any Primex facility and request a performer’s panel test.

LabTest LA is located at 12410 Burbank Blvd., Ste. 100B, North Hollywood, CA, and also has draw station locations in Florida. Performers can obtain a prescription at any of their locations and request a performer’s panel test.

Advanced Medical Testing Center (AMTC) has locations nationwide for performers located throughout the United States.

The Healing Wave Center is located at 16742 Stagg St., #109, Van Nuys, CA 91406. This medical clinic can provide testing services to performers, as well as other limited medical services with comfort, privacy and dignity.

All of the testing facilities also are open to the public, and have a wide range of testing services. For more information on any of the listed facilities, go to APHSS.org and click on the “Testing Facilities” tab on the top menu bar. From there, users can follow links to the facilities’ websites.

“FSC has been working diligently since the closure of AIM, to provide the industry with the APHSS.org program, in order to continue health and safety protocols for adult production,” Membership Director Joanne Cachapero said. “Our top priority has been to protect the well-being and privacy of performers, as well as securing the best possible testing services for the industry.

“We’re starting from scratch with this program,” she added, “but with the support of the adult community, we’re sure that APHSS.org will be an important resource for adult productions. We also look forward to developing additional APHSS.org services, such as health & safety education for industry members.”

Currently, the APHSS.org database is undergoing beta testing, and a formal launch announcement will come later this week.

For more information on APHSS.org or FSC, please contact (818) 348-9373 or joanne@freespeechcoalition.com.

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Posted Jul 27th, 2011 12:13 PM

LISBON, Portugal—Hotgold, the Portuguese adult film producer and distributor, and leader in the adult entertainment market in Portugal, presents Sócia... estou aqui entesadíssimo!, a landmark in national audio-visual production. It is the first Portuguese 3D movie, to be released this summer in both adult and mainstream markets, filmed with True 3D technology, in partnership with Adult4D.

Sócia... estou aqui entesadíssimo! (Partner... I Have a Hard On!) is the first Portuguese sex parody, produced and distributed by Hotgold, implementing the concept—3D—that has won the adult market all over the world. Based on an actual event, a famous press conference by a former Portuguese soccer player who made the whole country laugh, this film explores the imagery surrounding this event and reveals a new version of the events with a touch of comedy and lots of sex. When one of the best Portuguese soccer players ever tries to become a  sports director, anything goes. Over-promising, foul plays and, above all, lots of sex. Because that's the only way to fuck a club, big time!

One stand-out in the cast is Ana Mafalda, featured on the cover of the June issue of Portuguese Penthouse magazine, debuting in her first adult movie scene, with an incredible performance that will surprise all. Also noteworthy is the debut of Portuguese actress Joana Belmonte, as well as a star performance from Bianca Casanova, in her second film produced by Hotgold.

Sócia... estou aqui entesadíssimo! will be sold as a DVD double-pack that includes the 2D version of the film and the 3D version (anaglyphic) with a free pair of 3D glasses. This 3D version can be seen in all DVD players and TV sets.

The True 3D version will be available online at www.m18.pt  and will be compatible only with 3D-capable TVs and computers. A 3D Blu-Ray disk will be released in a few months.

Filmes Hotgold is the market leader in rights, distribution and sale of adult content in Portugal. With over two decades of experience in the market, Hotgold has the exclusive representation of major international producers of adult films, with a portfolio of more than 5,000 titles available, and offers the largest and more diverse range of videos, sex toys, erotic cosmetics and other adult products. Hotgold is the only global player for adult content in Portugal, assuming an integrated presence of its products in all distribution platforms, whether the more traditional, such as renting and direct sales, as well as the latest and emerging technologies like the internet systems, video on demand, pay per view, pay per minute, subscription, mobile and pay TV through its own TV channel (HOT). In addition, Hotgold is also the rights holder for the Penthouse brand in Portugal, having launched the first Portuguese edition in October 2010 from its editorial company Hotpublishing and, more recently, the distribution of Penthouse HD channels (soft) and Penthouse HD1 (hard), the first adult channels with full HD content.

For more information on Sócia... estou aqui entesadíssimo!, click here, or visit the company's website here.

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JESUSLAND—The Parents Television Council (PTC), fresh from claiming victory in its campaign to get MTV to stop airing the astoundingly-realistic American version of Skins, has turned its sights to NBC's announced Fall debut of The Playboy Club, a fictionalized look at the adult entertainment chain that, by the  late 1960s, had clubs in cities across the country and several foreign hot spots.

On Monday, PTC president Tim Winter sent a letter to NBC-TV headquarters in Burbank, with copies to every NBC affiliate station in the U.S., citing bogus statistics like, "About 200,000 Americans are 'porn addicts'" (which he defines as their spending 11 hours or more per week looking at pornography);  "40% of sex addicts lose their spouses"; "58% suffer financial losses"; and "one third lose their jobs." He also claims that "[p]ornography use increases the risk of marital infidelity by more than 300%"; that "56% of divorce cases involved one person having an obsessive interest in pornography"; and that "[s]evere clinical depression is reported twice as frequently among pornography users as among non-users."

There is, of course, no peer-reviewed scientific evidence for any of those claims, but Winter uses the likelihood that none of his letter's recipients will check his "facts" to shame the network and/or its affiliates by asking, "how on earth could you, in good conscience, agree to broadcast in your community a program that glorifies and glamorizes this insidious industry?"

Winter dismisses the replies he's already received from some affiliates which state that the series is, "a sophisticated series about the transitional times of the early 1960s and the complex lives of a group of working-class women."

"Putting a veneer of sophistication on an industry that exploits women and destroys families is not laudable, it is disgraceful...," Winter responds. "Whatever positive spin you may wish to put on the series, it is undeniably a betrayal of the trust you have built over the years with America 's families – the owners of the broadcast airwaves that you will be using to force this content into the living rooms of every family in your community."

(Of course, last we looked, all television sets have channel selectors, so NBC could hardly "force [its] content into the living rooms of every family," not even the interestingly-named "Poker After Dark.")

And who does Winter cite as his "legal expert" on the matter?

"The series looks like it's all cute, taking place back in the old days," Winter quotes disgraced former porn star Shelley Lubben as saying. "It seems harmless, but then they show a quick clip of three people going at it in the bathroom. NBC is breaking the law with this show. They're not meeting FCC standards."

Actually, whether the FCC's standards on "indecency" are at all valid will be the subject of a case the U.S. Supreme Court will be hearing next term, but surely Winter could have found a better "legal analyst" than Lubben to spout his falsehoods?

"If you proceed with plans to air this series in your community, be assured that the Parents Television Council will be carefully reviewing every episode and will urge its members to file complaints with the Federal Communications Commission about any content that may be in violation of broadcast decency laws," Winter threatens. "Please be mindful that it is the affiliate, not the network, that will ultimately bear the financial burden of an FCC fine should any of the content be found to violate broadcast decency laws."

And it's not an idle threat: A single "indecent" word or act can trigger a fine of $325,000—ten times higher than it was before Bush Republicans took over Congress—and that fine can be levied against each affiliate who broadcasts the "offending" material, as well as against the network itself.

Winter then addresses his warnings specifically to the affiliates' station managers:

"In a recent declaratory ruling, the FCC affirmed affiliates' ability to pre-empt any network programming that is 'unsatisfactory or unsuitable or contrary to the public interest.' ... As a station manager you not only have a right, but an obligation to preempt programs like The Playboy Club that fail to meet that standard."

But since it's unlikely that Winter has seen any full episodes of The Playboy Club, isn't a bit presumptious to claim already that the show fails to meet any affiliate's "community standards"? And although Variety reports that some of the show's stars have signed contracts that include the clause, "Nudity as defined above and/or simulated sex acts may be required in connection with player's services in the pilot and/or series," it's more likely that such skin will be used in the eventual "unexpurgated" DVD release of the show.

Of course, if, as Variety reporter Andrew Wallenstein suggests, the show's producers may shoot episodes with nudity, then edit around it for network broadcast, that might subject NBC to the requirements of 18 U.S.C. §2257A—but fortunately, as AVN recently discovered, the company has already filed its optional "exemption letter" with the U.S. Attorney General.

Still, PTC's campaign should guarantee a blockbuster night for The Playboy Club when it debuts on September 19.

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Posted Jul 27th, 2011 09:42 AM

STOCKHOLM, Sweden—A report by respected analyst Hewson expects sales of sex toys to grow from $8.3 billion a year to $65 billion by 2020. Researchers quoted in the article said: “We think that by 2020-2025 sex toy purchasing will run at over 400 million units per annum. In context, that’s about the same as smartphone units shipped per year.” The report said that sales of sex toys has been held back in the past due to an association with the sleazy, male-dominated pornography industry.

One of the main reasons that the previously shady sex-toy business is now emerging out of the basements up onto the main streets is one visionary, a Swede that the French edition of ELLE Magazine described as “the Philippe Starck of vibrators,” industrial designer Eric Kalén.

In the beginning of his career as an industrial designer, Kalén designed for leading a Swedish mobile company, as well as home appliance and furniture companies. But with the dream of building his own business, as a design student he constantly asked himself the same question over and over again: in what area is design not used to compete and create better products? The answer was sex-toys. Kalén founded the company LELO, a name and a brand that soon found its way into the bedside tables and handbags of women all over the world as well as in the mainstream media.

In its way it was a revolution, a whole new product segment and lifestyle accessory had been created in just a few years. Kalén had simply designed sex-toys that were beautiful. He had created a clear concept and a brand, the first luxury brand for vibrators. These were products that people were proud and ready to pay a lot of money for and that were mentioned in the same sentence as Prada or Gucci. Some consumers and designers even referenced them to be as appealing as Apple products. Kalén had succeeded in moving sex toys from the back street to the main street.

When a visionary opens up a road into new territories a lot of people will follow. It didn’t take long before other brands with a similar concept started crowding the premium sex toy segment. Kalén again started thinking about what new things could be done.

“Using a high price and exclusive designs as an alibi to make people comfortable with buying a vibrator worked really well, but after a while it didn’t feel as interesting and exciting anymore. I realized that the products did not fit when they were placed in pharmacies, accessory shops or convenience stores; the price level was unrealistically high for most people. Then I had the idea, or call it a mission: a high price shouldn´t be necessary as an alibi to buy a vibrator, design and attitude should be enough,” Kalén said.

The answer was Toyfriend.

To put it simply you can say that Toyfriend is to sex toys what H&M is to clothes. Toyfriend offers the consumer a unique concept with a thought through product range, great design and function at a price that is affordable for most people. All this with an attitude that is completely free from the normal stereotypes of the sex toy business.

“Today the market space is with filled with expensive vibrators that they want to be perceived as exclusive, or cheap products where design and quality is of no importance. Instead, I want to put design and concept in focus, and I want to do it with products that don´t consume a big part of a consumers monthly salary,” Kalén said.

Kalén has done it again and the consumers love it. With Toyfriend everybody can feel the pleasure of good quality and design, not only a few. The idea of creating a strong brand that can attract and satisfy in a market segment where a majority of the consumers are really purchasing  has demanded new and innovative strategies.

To learn more about Eric Kalen and his work visit Toyfriend.us/creator.

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