LOS ANGELES—The National Stereoscopic Association, the nation's largest organization devoted to three-dimensional (3D) photography and videography, will be holding its 38th annual convention in Costa Mesa on July 25-30. This year's show is being produced mainly by members of the LA 3D Club, several of whom have served on convention committees in the past—and they've even produced a 3D video, available on YouTube, to promote the convention. (To view the video, as well as the photo accompanying this article, you'll need red/blue 3D glasses.)

The convention will take place at the Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa Hotel, located at 3050 Bristol Street, Costa Mesa, CA 92626; phone 714-540-7000 for reservations, with a special room rate available for convention attendees until July 1.

Among the activities which may interest attendees are panel discussions, image competitions, award banquets, excursions to southern California sites where participants can shoot 3D photos and videos, and (new this year) a "Stere-O-Deon" patterned after the Nickelodeons of the past, where people can enter a booth and watch slideshows of 3D images, including classic Viewmaster reels, displayed in viewers right before their eyes.

Since recent advances in technology have assured that 3D is here to stay in the national media, cable TV and Hollywood movies, adult producers and directors who are interested in learning about the most up-to-date 3D techniques can discuss 3D filmmaking with people who have produced their own 3D movies, professional and amateur during the convention's several workshops on 3D production.

Of particular interest to adult fans will be the "Adult Stereo Theater" which usually takes place the Friday night of the convention. After spending the day seeing the art exhibits, watching 3D videos and slide shows, attending 3D auctions, renewing old acquaintances and looking for deals on 3D cameras and collectables, it's not unusual to have anywhere between 200 and 400 attendees (no one under 18 admitted) settle down for late-evening adult 3D viewing.

This year, in additional other exhibitors, it is expected that the Adult Stereo Theater will include a slide show by this author of 3D photos he's taken on adult movie sets over the course of the year, as well as 3D promotional reels from adult's most prominent 3D producers: Hustler Video, showcasing the 3D movies they've released on DVD, and Penthouse, which will draw on the fare shown on its European 3D erotic satellite channels. None of the shows have hardcore, but there's nudity galore.

Registration materials for the convention can be found here; a "3D Village" can be seen this Sunday at the San Mateo County Event Center's Maker Faire; and many of the convention planners can be found at the next meeting of the LA 3D Club on Thursday, June 21 at the Armory Center for the Arts, 145 N. Raymond St., Pasadena 91103 (map).

Pictured, l-r: Eric Swiss, Bailey Blue and Anthony Rosano in Will Ryder Productions' Not the Three Stooges XXX.

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MIAMI BEACH, Fla.—Wrestler-turned-porn star Chyna inexplicably collapsed just moments ago in front of the main stage at Exxxotica Miami, which opened today at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

TMZ.com reports that after suddenly dropping to the floor, Chyna was checked out on the scene by paramedics, who determined that she did not need to be hospitalized. She was then escorted by several people to a nearby hotel, where she is now resting.

Chyna canceled a scheduled appearance this afternoon at the concurrent XBIZ Summit.

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LOS ANGELES—As some in the adult community are aware, even though the LA County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) has way-too-high figures for the rates of sexually transmitted diseases in porn, fact is, there still are a lot of STDs out there, lurking in bars, bathhouses, massage parlors, etc. That's why the county gives big bucks to local health care providers to purchase and distribute free condoms.

But like so many people, companies and events in the modern world, LACDPH has decided it needs to brand the hundreds of thousands of condoms it gives away each year... so they're having a contest, dubbed "L.A.'s Next Sex Symbol," to design an official LA condom wrapper that will include the tag line, "Show Me Your Package."

According to a press release from County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky's office, "An estimated 2,000 new HIV infections occur annually in L.A. County"—thanks to comprehensive testing, of course, none in the adult performer community—and "Last year, the department reported more than 47,500 new cases of chlamydia, more than 9,500 new cases of gonorrhea and nearly 1,800 new cases of syphilis."

So the county is looking for a design for a condom package—in fact, 10 different designs—under rules that will be posted on the contest website, and while entrants cannot trademark or copyright their designs, or (sadly) use sexually explicit imagery, all 10 chosen designs will be used on condom packages. Also, according to the press release, "The winner and nine runners-up will receive prizes and gift cards, plus bragging rights to a package design that will be distributed countywide and featured in future condom promotions."

"We want to circulate more than one design so people can collect them all," said Project Manager True Ann Beck, adding that the initial plan is "to start with a million and one condoms."

A similar contest held in 2010 in New York garnered nearly 600 entries, and New Yorkers cast more than 15,000 online ballots to choose their favorites.

The LA contest will run from May 21 to June 17, and is open only to adults—which, fortunately, is the only age range acceptable to the adult industry—so all you box cover designers, web page designers, illustrators, photographers and other creative types, why not give this a shot? If for no other reason than to say to LA County, "You may be trying to force us to use condoms that will kill our industry... but at least you'll look good doing it!"

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http://business.avn.com/articles/ en Copyright 1983-2010 AVN Media Network. All Rights Reserved. AVN is a registered trademark of AVN Media Network, Inc. webmaster@avn.com (AVN Webmaster) http://business.avn.com/articles/legal/Houston-Wants-to-Bury-Treasures-475979.html The city of Houston says that the amount of trafficking, prostitution and drug use occurring at the club has made it such a nuisance that they want to close it down. webmaster@avn.com (AVN Webmaster) http://business.avn.com/articles/legal/Houston-Wants-to-Bury-Treasures-475979.html Fri, 18 May 2012 15:06:51 PDT http://business.avn.com/articles/legal/City-Administrative-Officer-Asks-For-More-Time-on-Condom-Regs-475974.html In a letter issued Wednesday, LA City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana has asked the City Council to give his "Working Group on the Safer Sex in the Adult Film Industry Ordinance" an extra 90 days to figure out how to implement and enforce the mandatory condom ordinance webmaster@avn.com (AVN Webmaster) http://business.avn.com/articles/legal/City-Administrative-Officer-Asks-For-More-Time-on-Condom-Regs-475974.html Fri, 18 May 2012 14:15:05 PDT http://business.avn.com/articles/novelty/Icon-Brands-Takes-Different-Point-of-View-on-Strokers-475891.html Icon Brands is releasing a brand new line of stroker kits called The Ultimate POV Experience, featuring a proprietary new stroker developed just for this project, plus a corresponding POV DVD from one of Evil Angel’s most popular directors. webmaster@avn.com (AVN Webmaster) http://business.avn.com/articles/novelty/Icon-Brands-Takes-Different-Point-of-View-on-Strokers-475891.html Fri, 18 May 2012 13:16:00 PDT http://business.avn.com/articles/novelty/CalExotics-Romatix-Host-Launch-of-Phil-Varone-Sex-Toy-Line-475923.html Rocker Phil Varone, the former drummer for Skid Row and Saigon Kick, hosted the public launch of his Sex, Toys and Rock ’n Roll line Thursday at the Melrose Avenue location of Romantix. webmaster@avn.com (AVN Webmaster) http://business.avn.com/articles/novelty/CalExotics-Romatix-Host-Launch-of-Phil-Varone-Sex-Toy-Line-475923.html Fri, 18 May 2012 11:42:07 PDT http://business.avn.com/articles/legal/Another-East-Texas-Patent-Troll-Targets-Adult-Mainstream-475920.html Like desert varmints, patent trolls take to the verdant (if sometimes parched) lands of East Texas, where the environment is advantageous for them, if not for others. webmaster@avn.com (AVN Webmaster) http://business.avn.com/articles/legal/Another-East-Texas-Patent-Troll-Targets-Adult-Mainstream-475920.html Fri, 18 May 2012 11:04:31 PDT http://business.avn.com/articles/video/Revenge-of-the-Petites-1st-Run-Sells-Out-475917.html AMKingdom reports that the initial run of its Revenge of the Petites has entirely sold out. The studio has already replicated a second run of the movie AVN's Peter Warren called an "absolute must-see.” webmaster@avn.com (AVN Webmaster) http://business.avn.com/articles/video/Revenge-of-the-Petites-1st-Run-Sells-Out-475917.html Fri, 18 May 2012 10:17:00 PDT http://business.avn.com/articles/video/Georgina-Spelvin-Faces-the-Wrath-of-Warner-475905.html We're guessing there isn't an adult in America—even the rabid churchgoers—who doesn't know who Georgina Spelvin is. Her list of XXX titles, as chronicled on the Internet Adult Film Database, is legion... but like many adult stars, she also managed to land roles in two mainstream films, Police Academy 1 and 3. webmaster@avn.com (AVN Webmaster) http://business.avn.com/articles/video/Georgina-Spelvin-Faces-the-Wrath-of-Warner-475905.html Fri, 18 May 2012 09:53:54 PDT http://business.avn.com/articles/novelty/Nalpac-Carrying-Fifty-Shades-Trilogy-475904.html Nalpac Ltd. announces the arrival of the best selling Fifty Shades trilogy from first time author E.L. James. The first book in the trilogy currently sits atop The New York Times Best-Sellers List (print and e-book editions combined). webmaster@avn.com (AVN Webmaster) http://business.avn.com/articles/novelty/Nalpac-Carrying-Fifty-Shades-Trilogy-475904.html Fri, 18 May 2012 09:05:58 PDT http://business.avn.com/articles/novelty/Sportsheets-Sex-Mischief-Entrenue-Get-Boost-from-Fifty-Shades-475888.html When a local television station wanted to do a piece on the Fifty Shades phenomenon, they looked to the pleasure products industry for some experts and insight. webmaster@avn.com (AVN Webmaster) http://business.avn.com/articles/novelty/Sportsheets-Sex-Mischief-Entrenue-Get-Boost-from-Fifty-Shades-475888.html Fri, 18 May 2012 08:39:00 PDT http://business.avn.com/articles/novelty/Pipedream-Williams-Trading-Co-Team-For-Fifty-Shades-Fetish-Fantasy-Promo-475885.html Pipedream Products and Williams Trading have partnered for an exclusive cross-selling promotion for retailers to capitalize on the phenomenal buzz surrounding the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy. webmaster@avn.com (AVN Webmaster) http://business.avn.com/articles/novelty/Pipedream-Williams-Trading-Co-Team-For-Fifty-Shades-Fetish-Fantasy-Promo-475885.html Fri, 18 May 2012 07:29:00 PDT

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Posted May 18th, 2012 07:29 AM

CHATSWORTH, Calif.—Pipedream Products and Williams Trading have partnered for an exclusive cross-selling promotion for retailers to capitalize on the phenomenal buzz surrounding the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy. By joining forces, the adult distribution powerhouse brings its retail clients an exclusive 14-piece mix of kinky essentials from Pipedream, including the award-winning Fetish Fantasy line, all geared to maximize the sales of the Fifty Shades trilogy.

"We can't keep copies of the Fifty Shades trilogy in stock and it is the perfect cross-sell with Pipedream's Fetish Fantasy line," said Kelly Szwed, Williams Trading Co. marketing and promotions coordinator. "We wanted to partner up with Pipedream to boost our relationship, spotlight the Fetish Fantasy brand, and strengthen our retailer customers' sales. This kit will enable retailers to display and promote both the trilogy, which we carry, with items featured in the story from Pipedream."

The exclusive Fifty Shades-inspired cross-selling kit from Williams Trading features products directly related to the bestselling literary sensation, as well as tried-and-true bestsellers from Pipedream that will suit any customer's taste and experience level.

The selection of products includes classic Fetish Fantasy beginner's bondage items such as cuffs, rope and breathable ball gag, as well as items that may appeal to vanilla shoppers such as the Fetish Fantasy Love Mask, latex stockings or corset, or the Maxi Wanachi wand massager. The cross-selling kit also has something for more adventurous shoppers with products such as anal beads, butt plugs and nipple clamps.

Presented as a plan-o-gram that can be incorporated into a store's layout as a wall or table display, retailers can create the ultimate BDSM/fetish destination in their store.

"We're pleased to bring Williams Trading's retail clientele the ultimate Fifty Shades cross-selling kit with products that the trilogy's fan base can identify with and that are priced for beginners," said Briana Honz, Pipedream's visual merchandiser. "The cross-selling kit offers flexibility and numerous opportunities to maximize any allotted space with an eye-catching BDSM display. Fetish Fantasy has already made a name for itself around the world as the No. 1 BDSM introductory line and with this promo, we bring retailers the power of branding coupled with the pop cultural phenomenon of 'mommy porn.'"

The exclusive Fifty Shades Fetish Fantasy cross-selling kit features the Fetish Fantasy Series Official Handcuffs, Ben Wa Balls, Fetish Fantasy Series Breathable Ball Gag, Fetish Fantasy Series Beaded Metal Flogger, Fetish Fantasy Series Japanese Silk Rope, Jelly Anal Beads, Basix Rubber Works - Beginners Butt Plug, Maxi Wanachi, Fetish Fantasy Series Leather Love Mask, Fetish Fantasy Series Nipple Chain Clamps, Rubba-Wear Latex Stockings, Rubba-Wear Latex Corset, Fetish Fantasy Series Spread 'em Bar and Cuff Set and Fetish Fantasy Series Wartenberg Wheel.

For more information, visit WilliamsTradingCo.com.

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Posted May 17th, 2012 06:48 PM

MIAMI—Following on the heels of Kink.com, as well as its own previous effort, Private Media Group subsidiary Fraserside IP yesterday filed suit against DrTuber.com, Igor Kovalchuk, Extron Worldwide Corporation and Era Technologies Limited, alleging copyright infringement by the tube site. The suit was filed in the same Miami federal court as did Kink.com, and by the same legal team, Jason Fischer from Randazza legal Group, along with attorney Chad Belville, who is working pro hac vice on the case.

The allegations are pretty much the same, as well.

"Defendants’ website, DrTuber.com, is arguably one of the most visited websites in the world," states the complaint. "These enormous numbers of visitors result in Plaintiff’s copyrighted works being viewed thousands or even hundreds of thousands of times on Defendants’ website. Defendants proudly display the number of instances in which a particular piece of media has been played on its website as number of 'views.' One video has been viewed over 4,868,766 times!"

In fact, the plaintiff claims that Plaintiff's intellectual property has been "viewed over TEN MILLION (10,000,000) times, available for months and for some videos, years, on Defendants’ website."

In terms of defenses afforded internet service providers by federal law, Fraserside  says DrTuber can claim none, stating, "Defendants enjoy direct financial benefits from unauthorized display of Plaintiff’s copyrighted content, which deprives Defendants of any safe harbor defenses under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act."

In all, the complaint cites "32 separate instances of copyright infringement of Plaintiff’s copyrighted and trademarked intellectual property."

In addition to the regular plea for a preliminary and permanent injunction against DrTuber.com, Kovalchuk and anyone else associated with the running of the site, the plaintiff is seeking the transfer of the domain into its possession, enhanced damages and attorneys' fees, pre-judgment and post-judgment interest and expert witness fees.

At $150,00 a pop times 32 individual cases of infringement, statutory damages work out to $4.8 million.

The complaint can be accessed here.

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SYDNEY, Australia—So-called academic research by husband and wife psychologists is getting a lot of press for being the first comprehensive study on internet porn addition conducted in Australia. Media outlets around the world are announcing the "startling results" of the study, which include that 43 percent of those surveyed started to view porn between the ages of 11 and 13. But is the information reliable?

The psychologists, Professor Raj Sitharthan and his wife, Dr. Gomathi Sitharthan, are affiliated with the University of Sydney but conducted this survey through a private group, the Australian Centre for Addiction Research, which also provides addiction counseling for those seeking treatment. Much of the centers focus seems directed toward issues related to alcohol and drug abuse, but as with other addiction centers around the world, the newest trend in therapy is for so-called sex or porn addiction, which remains a very controversial subject even within the therapy industry.

In Australia, a Western democracy that nonetheless adheres to a consistently conservative view of sex and porn—despite the fact that it also claims the world's only political party with sex in the name and is home to some very popular adult trade shows—the idea that internet porn is a problem is nothing new. The country was the first to float the idea of implementing mandatory porn filters at the ISP level. Push backs by civil libertarians and a complicated implementation plan have resulted in years-long delays, but the idea remains alive despite the fact that no one serious believes that it would effectively inhibit anyone but tech idiots from accessing desired sites.

In the meantime, as in the United States and elsewhere, the idea of porn as an inherently addictive product along the lines of hard drugs has taken hold of the popular imagination, and is being repeated by health professionals, politicians and members of the media as if it is a fait accompli. The problem is, no studies exist that prove the theory conclusively, and if anything, the current one by the Sitharnans deserves to be taken with as many or more grains of salt as any that came before it.

It is, in fact, not research, but an unscientific online survey that anyone can take anonymously. As such, the "startling results" could just as well be pure hogwash. But try telling that to the media.

"Porn addiction can be cured, Australian study finds," screamed the headline of the Courier Mail.

"In the first study of its kind in Australia, University of Sydney researchers say they have uncovered the severe impact of porn addiction on users and their families," claimed the Sydney Morning Herald.

The Register proclaimed, "Study reveals high price of smut addiction."

And even the University of Sydney released a press release whose title made the questionable claim, "Study exposes secret world of porn addiction."

In one of the more ironic claims, however, ABC News stated of the Sitharthans, "They believe the [internet porn addiction] trend is also because the internet allows pornography users to remain anonymous."

Just like with the survey!

But perhaps most egregious is the fact that the media, as is its wont, insists on taking the data culled from the survey as the Holy Grail of porn addictions stats, and extrapolating the findings to the population as a whole, completely contradicting the researchers themselves!

In article after article, the data is delivered without caveat, including in the ABC News article, which fails to include in the written article the following comments by Professor Sitharthan from a video report that accompanies the article.

"We're talking about a small minority, or a small group, of people where excessive viewing does become a problem," he said. "It's that group that we need to target on; not everyone who uses porn."

Of course, later in the video, he also stated, "The starting age to view porn was between 11-13 years, which actually surprised us, given that at such an early age people do seem to have some form of access to sort of look at porn material."

As mentioned, there is no way for the professor to make that claim with any real confidence that it has been proven correct. But even more problematic, the study only generally seeks to qualify what sort of porn is being viewed, and offers only the following categories:

* swimsuit/catalogues

* magazines (Playboy, Penthouse, etc.)

* R-rated videos

* educational books or videos

* Internet (images or pop-ups)

* xxx-rated videos or downloaded clips via the Internet

A field is available where people can add in other types of porn, but the examples provided do not prompt the answerer to define the specific type of porn they watch, but only the general rating or the medium. The result is that all people who mark "Internet," for instance, are thrown into the same pot, even though the answer really tell you nothing about their preferences or experiences.

But considering the skew of a majority of the survey's questions, the point of the exercise seems less to learn about what people are experiencing than to lead them into therapy. The following questions taken from the survey are a small representative sample of the negative bent of the entire survey:

* How often do you find that you stay on-line longer than you intended?

* How often do you neglect household chores to spend more time on-line?

* How often do you prefer the excitement of the Internet to intimacy with your partner?

* How often do others in your life complain to you about the amount of time you spend on-line?

* How often do your grades or school work suffer because of the amount of time you spend on-line?

* How often does your job performance or productivity suffer because of the Internet?

* How often do you become defensive or secretive when anyone asks you what you do on-line?

* How often do you snap, yell, or act annoyed if someone bothers you while you are on-line?

If you didn't feel bad about your online activity going in, you sure will by the time you're done. But some other questions are so odd that one can't help wondering if the researchers themselves just discovered the internet and are only now realizing its significance.

* How often do you check your e-mail before something else that you need to do?

* How often do you fear that life without the Internet would be boring, empty, and joyless?

* How often do you lose sleep due to late-night log-ins?

We're not sure what any of that means, and are equally unsure whether the Sitharthans do, either. But the general sweep and vague and ill-informed definitions of the survey are of no apparent interest to anyone reporting on it ... but, it seems, us.

Needless to say, being AVN, our motives in questioning the survey will themselves be called into question. WE are, after all, apologists for the porn merchants who want to enslave the world's children before they even have a chance to have a childhood.

Or maybe we would desperately like to see research that, no matter the findings, we can cite without having to point out the many faults and fallacies brought to bear by therapy professionals whose findings are for all intents and purposes preordained.

The Internet Porn Addiction survey can be taken here.

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BOULDER, Colo.—Socially conscious condom maker Sir Richard's Condom Company likes to mix it up when it comes to advertising. In past efforts, the Colorado-based company has, as AdWeek put it, defended the honor of sluts everywhere. In its latest video effort, the manufacturer on a mission now wants to know what women will not put in their vaginas, and decided the best way to find out was simply to ask.

"I have some basic rules about what will never go in my vagina," says the first woman in the video, who proceeds to answer the "what" question with "who" answers: "Investment bankers, pastry chefs..."

The rest of the women follow suit, ticking off a litany of out-of-luck professions and actual people, including, to name but a few, bowlers, street performers, Brad, men who collect samurai swords, roadies, bouncers, mixologists, professors, men who leave a couple of buttons undone, and sadly, a bartender named Jeremy who works at Sancho's.

The video ends with the admonition, "We just hope you keep chemicals out of your vagina," a rather obvious reminder that Sir Richard's condoms are made from 100 percent natural latex, with a premium lubricant that is free of spermicides, parabens and glycerin, is vegan certified and free of casein.

The video is definitely worth one minute of your time, as it features attractive women talking about their vaginas (hello), but what is most striking about it, what we could not help but notice, what we believe the world must notice, what we demand the world notice, is that the single profession—seemingly the only profession—that not one woman said they would NEVER allow in their vagina was...

... porn star!

That's right, women find investment bankers yuckier than porn stars. It's official.

You can watch the video here.

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CHATSWORTH, Calif.—Smash Pictures has cast Allie Haze and Ryan Driller as BDSM-ensconced lovers Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey in its forthcoming parody of E.L. James' novel Fifty Shades Darker, the second in her blockbuster trilogy.

This will be Haze's first off-contract starring role following her split from Vivid Entertainment, announced Monday. She was nominated for Best Actress at the 2012 AVN Awards for a role she completed before becoming a Vivid Girl, in New Sensations Romance's Lost and Found. Driller is known for his portrayal of Clark Kent/Superman in Axel Braun's Superman XXX: A Porn Parody, which earned him a Best Actor nod from AVN this year.

The two were selected for the leads of Fifty Shades Darker after an open audition last Friday with producer Stuart Wall and director Jim Powers.

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TORONTO—History will be made when the Miss Universe Canada contest kicks off tonight. For the first time ever, the pageant will include a transgendered contestant, Jenna Taleakova, a 23-year-old blonde from Vancouver who was originally booted from the pageant because she was not born a male. It took the intervention of Donald Trump to get her reinstated.

"It all starts tonight with a swimwear and evening gown contest in front of a panel of 15 judges and a live audience in downtown Toronto," reported CTV News. "The panel includes designers Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan of HGTV's Home Heist, The Kennedys actress Kristin Booth and singer Kreesha Turner."

Talackova, who underwent sex reassignment surgery when she was 19 despite knowing she was female from the age of four, said earlier this week that she is "in it to win," but during publicity events earlier this week she said that no matter what happens, it's been worth it.

"If it works out, then great. If not, I’m so proud of myself,” said the 6'1'' beauty, who conspicuously towers over her co-contestants during photo shoots.

Currently a student at the Institute of Holistic Nutrition, with dreams of one day opening an organic restaurant, Talackova is more than cognizant of what her participation in the pageant means.

“I’ve set a precedent for a lot of women in my situation so once I step on that stage every woman in every other country that doesn’t have the option I have now can fight for it,' she said. "I feel so blessed with this opportunity."

For more on Miss Universe Canada, go here.

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Posted May 17th, 2012 01:08 PM

LOS ANGELES—AVN Hall of Famer and Mercenary Pictures owner Lexington Steele brings his unique and outspoken points of view to LATalkRadio.com on his own upcoming talk show, "Size Matters."

"Size Matters," premiering on Thursday, May 24 from 4 to 5p.m. PST on LATalkRadio.com's Channel 2, will be co-hosted by Steele and comedian Thomas Ward (also known for his award-winning non-sex portrayal of Bill Cosby's Cliff Huxtable in X-Play's Not the Cosbys XXX volumes 1 and 2). The show's format will feature live interviews with mainstream and adult celebrities, as well as a call-in segment to discuss trending topics of the day.

Steele, who has been a member of the Screen Actor's Guild since 2008, hosted Playboy TV's "Lex in the City," and currently appears as Nick Fury in Axel Braun's Avengers XXX: A Porn Parody (pictured above), is no stranger to being on both sides of a talk show. His vision for "Size Matters" is to foster deep and meaningful discussions that reveal more than the title suggests.

"I was featured on James Bartholet's 'Inside the Industry,' and his show made me aware of LATalkRadio.com and the potential it has to reach my fans and those interested in a show that would tackle a variety of topics intelligently," Steele said. "It gave me the motivation to revisit a project I penned in 2010 for radio programming called 'The Modern Man Show.' The current renditon became the 'Size Matters' show."

The online format of the show allows "Size Matters" to discuss mature subject matter that would be difficult to broach on traditional broadcast radio, he added. The shows will also be downloadable and available as podcasts to allow listeners to enjoy them at their leisure.  

"The conversations we start on 'Size Matters' will often begin as topics suggested by fans, friends and followers on my Facebook page and Twitter," Steele said. "But they'll continue after the show on those same social media outlets as well."

Sponsorship opportunities and commercial time for "Size Matters" are available; email rate requests to: sizemattersradio@gmail.com. Adult media associations and content providers will receive the highest priority.

Entertainers interested in appearing on "Size Matters" may contact sizemattersradio@gmail.com as well.

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Posted May 17th, 2012 12:32 PM

LONG BEACH, Calif.—Sportsheets International has received star treatment at The Rubber Tree adult boutique, which has enshrined one of the company's very first Sports Cuffs wrist and ankle restraints in a special display honoring the best-selling couples product's upcoming 20^th birthday.

The original Sports Cuffs debuted on the market in 1993 and were an instant success thanks to its easy-to-use design and couples-friendly functionality. The cuffs' unique neoprene and Velcro construction provides a strong, yet comfortable fit that adjusts to couples of every size and sexual level, leaving retailers with a foolproof sale. Twenty years ago The Rubber Tree kept a set of their own, and now the vintage apparatus is on display for all to enjoy.

"We created the Sports Cuffs to be a versatile restraint system for anyone interested in exploring restraint fantasy, and we knew they'd take off right away," Sportsheets Vice President Julie Stewart said. "They can be attached to just about anything and even expand to be used as a collar or thigh cuff simply by linking the two together. Sportsheets has been keeping couples happily connected for decades, and The Rubber Tree has been one of our longest-running customers and loyal supporters since day one!"

The Sportsheets Premium Sports Cuffs are gentle and soft on the skin, yet durable and strong enough to restrain even the most passionate bedroom pioneer. Best-sellers for almost 20 years, these restraints are a must-have for beginner players to advanced enthusiasts.

"We were Sportsheets' first customer back when [company President] Tom Stewart was traveling door to door selling the Sports Cuffs and matching tethers from his trunk," The Rubber Tree owner Shana Starr said. "I love strapping on the Sports Cuffs and showing our shoppers how it's done. We're a mom-and-pop store that cherishes one-on-one relationships with both our shoppers and the brands we support, and we hold a very special place in our hearts for Sportsheets!"

Sportsheets Premium is the company's flagship and pillar brand featuring the highest quality craftsmanship, reliable construction and design elements that purveyors of fantasy and sex position play expect. The collection includes strap-ons, sexual positional toys, restraints, blindfolds and the world-renowned Sportsheet bondage bed sheet, the innovation that helped put the company on the map.

For more information, visit Sportsheets.com, email info@sportsheets.com, or call (800) 962-4606.

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Posted May 17th, 2012 12:15 PM

LAS VEGAS—Adult film superstar Houston, known as "The Gang Bang Queen" after her record-setting group sex session, has written an autobiography about her life. Houston, Pretty Enough – The Story of the Gang Bang Queen, details Houston’s rise to infamy, the grinding work on the road as a featured exotic dancer in gentlemen’s clubs across America, her steamy encounters on and off the set, her recent battle with cancer, and her current life as a Las Vegas realtor.

Houston has enjoyed a wild and racy ride in both the adult film industry and her fast-track personal life over the past 15 years. Her hard-working, hard-partying ways have paid off, earning her a reputation as one of the most popular, culturally groundbreaking and highest-paid adult actresses of all time.
 
The granddaughter of a prominent Disney animator, Houston has a vibrant, animated exuberance about her, which has made her one of Howard Stern’s best and most beloved recurring radio show guests. Busty, blond and dripping with sex, Houston infamously took her sexuality to the extreme in 1999’s best-selling and award-winning World’s Biggest Gangbang 3: The Houston 620. Houston not only set a Guinness World Record, but a notoriety that brought her an unprecedented amount of mainstream attention, career opportunities and high-profile Hollywood lovers.

Houston believes that Houston, Pretty Enough will give curious readers insight into a resilient, fearless woman’s extraordinary life in the porn industry during the so-called golden ‘DVD Age’, her contribution to eroding the stigma of porn in mainstream pop culture and a glimpse into the scandalous shadows of a life lived to the fullest.

Shockingly honest, Houston gives her readers stories that will surprise, to the extreme. And she would not want it any other way. The forward was written by legendary porn star and mainstream sensation, Ron Jeremy.

Houston's book is available for purchase on the web at HoustonPrettyEnoughStore.com. 

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Posted May 16th, 2012 01:58 PM

TEHACHAPI, Calif.—AVN has received the following letter from veteran performer Jack Hammer, who's currently completing a 1991 prison sentence for armed robbery, which after he spent five years on parole, was reincarcerated in 2005 for violating that parole. The letter states the following:

"This is porn actor/sex performer Jack Hammer with over 380 XXX videos, reaching out from a California prison with just under 16 months to freedom—11-25-2013—asking to be welcomed with open arms back into the XXX family, as I am seeking work to get back on my feet.

"I am also looking for a place to stay till I get back on my feet, and am upset that my Wikipedia page is wrong and am seeking someone who will help correct all this stuff for me and they can have free advertising. Unfortunately, we have no computer access in prison, or I'd fix it all. I can't wait to get on Twitter and link everything together and start the ball rollin' to bigger and better things! You help me, I'll help you!

"Please, come one, come all, porn actresses, actors, CEOs, owners, producers, directors, fans, swingers and mainstream players—as I do have a S.A.G. card—who are generous, knowing I'll have their back. Write me directly to get to know the real me, and we shall go from there. I promise, you will not be disappointed as I've lived a very colorful life, with a lot more to say that is relevant today!

"Thank you! Have a great day knowing the world is a better place with you in it!

"Respectfully writing,

"Jack Hammer @

"Troy Dean Mainwaring, T-90327

"P.O. Box 1905, C2-129-L

"Tehachapi, CA 93581 - USA

"PS: I'm 1-1/2 hours north of Los Angeles/San Fernando Valley and open to get visitors, F.Y.I."

Editor's note: Hammer has a Yahoo group devoted to him, which can be found here.

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Posted May 16th, 2012 12:33 PM

LAS VEGAS—A. L. Enterprises, makers of the CB-X Male Chastity brand of products, has expanded its Designer Collection with the addition of the CB-6000S device featuring a lustrous chrome finish. CB-X also makes it easier for men with "more to love" to explore and embrace the male chastity lifestyle with two new larger sized U-rings that are now available as add-ons.

The new U-rings are available in sizes 2 1/8 inches, and 2 ¼ inches, offering better comfort for men with large girth around their testicles. The larger rings can be paired with any CB-X male chastity device kit (which are packaged with 1½ inches, 1 5/8 inches, 1¾ inches, 1 7/8 inches, and 2 inches), available in an assorted selection of high-quality, durable and lightweight units.

"In recent years we started getting an increase in requests for larger sizes from guys that couldn't fit into the largest ring in the package," CB-X Corporate Director Nikki Yates said. "Most men can fit in the rings that come in the package, however for men that have a tight ball sack or have a larger circumference around their testicles, the larger rings will make long-term wear much more comfortable. Greater options equate to greater sales for all of us and we're here to give our customers what they need!"

CB-X also has released its CB-6000S—a shorter, 2½-inch inch version of the bestselling CB-6000—in the popular chrome finish. The new chrome-finish CB-6000S model also will be available as a cage-only unit for people that already have the chrome CB-6000 and would like to try the smaller cage. 

The CB-6000S in chrome joins the Designer Collection, which is characterized by beautiful finishes that are applied as exceptional, durable overlay on lightweight polycarbonate material. The Designer Collection Male Chastity Device range offers the utmost in comfort and security. CB-X devices of discipline include a cage, locking pins, rings, spacers, a padlock, storage pouch, and sample of System JO silicone lubricant.

CB-X Male Chastity devices are available from Eldorado, ECN, Sex Toy Distributing, and The Stockroom inAmericaor from Mister B and ST Rubber GmbH outside of theU.S. 

For more information, visit CB-X.com.

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Posted May 16th, 2012 12:15 PM

SAN JOSE, Calif.—LELO will be welcomed back to the Cannes Film Festival this month, with a short film by the Swedish designer company set to be projected onto extra-large screens at prime locations across the city for the duration of the event.

This marks LELO’s second visit to Cannes; the brand also showcased their ultra-exclusive Luxe collection at the festival in 2009 to great acclaim. This time around, the entire portfolio will be on display. LELO models will be stationed in prominent areas along the promenades to help introduce festival-goers to the brand’s range, which includes some of the world’s most luxurious personal massagers along with lingerie, nightwear, and massage oils and accessories.

“We’re honored to be given the opportunity to share our brand at the world’s most renowned film festival,” LELO CEO Miroslav Slavic said. “Marilyn Monroe is the inspiration behind this year’s event and we’re going to show that LELO holds the coveted position she sang about, usually reserved for diamonds—as a girl’s best friend.”

LELO’s latest foray into the intimate lifestyle industry’s creative side follows hot on the heels of their success at Milan Design Week—during which the brand hosted the event’s hottest closing party, attended by many of the top names in design and fashion.

The video can be viewed online directly via LELO.com.

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Posted May 10th, 2012 03:49 PM

LOS ANGELES—Adult performer Sara Jay and Brazzers' battle over the website SaraJayBlog.com has come to an end. The parties' contentious fight leaves both sides claiming victory.

Jay sued Brazzers, saying it had set up the blog through an affiliate with the purpose of impersonating her and "stealing traffic."

Brazzers has vigorously denied this, with Brazzers director of communications and marketing Kate Miller telling AVN today that it "never owned, operated, nor was involved in the registration or management of SaraJayBlog.com."

Jay, in a statement, claims she "sued because there was a blog out there purporting to be my official blog which sent all the traffic—and sales—to Brazzers. Needless to say, I take any attempt to use my name to make money of my name very seriously. We won at the trial court and court of appeal levels."

Miller denied Jay's version of events, calling it "completely incorrect. To the contrary, this case never went to court, or trial, and consequently never made [it] to the Court of Appeal. The case was withdrawn and dismissed by Sara Jay before trial."

Jay continued: "However, with the blog now gone and Brazzers agreeing it would not stand in the way of me getting back the url, settling made sense. We were both incurring massive amounts of time, legal expenses and costs—time I could be spending shooting or on my career. I'd rather be on set having sex for my fans than in a court room. It was a bitter battle with Brazzers but it was better for both sides to resolve it."

After the case was filed, the blog site was taken down, but the legal battle continued, with Jay claiming Brazzers cited a model release as the permission it needed to use Jay's image on the blog. Jay also alleged Brazzers operated other sites in other performers' names.

"This is totally false and simply misleading," Miller said. "To the contrary, Manwin complies with all applicable national and international intellectual property laws and expects the same for any third party."

Brazzers insists that Jay received no monetary compensation as a resolution of the suit.

"Contrary to recent reports, Sara Jay did not succeed in any way, shape, or form in her lawsuit against Brazzers, concerning a site called SaraJayBlog.com," the company said in a statement. "In fact, after spending significant amounts on legal fees prosecuting what Brazzers maintained at all times was a frivolous action, Sara Jay did not receive a single amount, payment or money in settlement.

"Instead, Sara Jay abandoned her case and released all claims she conceivably had, in exchange for Brazzers’ agreement not to proceed with its pending motions for sanctions, or file claims for malicious prosecution against her and her attorney."

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CHATSWORTH, Calif.—Talent agency Ideal Image Management (IMM) has been around for about a year and a half—plenty long enough to know that finding work for all their talent is tough and getting tougher—so this week, the company has announced the launch of the Ideal Management Camhouse, a webcam studio currently consisting of four furnished rooms where models can earn extra income when they're not shooting movies or other content.

"The way we look at it is, it's a good way for the girls to earn money, and perhaps just importantly, it keeps them relevant from a publicity standpoint," explained IMM co-founder Corey. "We continuously have meetings with people, especially producers, who hire talent based on the girls' numbers of fan followers off of Twitter and things of that nature, and webcamming is an opportunity for the models to gain a higher fan base."

"A lot of girls in the industry do it, but there's a lot of girls that don't do it," he continued. "Not only that, but a lot of them don't even know how to get involved in webcamming and they don't have a facility to do it. A lot of them are living in 'model houses' and there's nothing set up for them there; some of them maybe have a room but they don't have a facility or a laptop or things of that nature, so we basically developed our studio webcam rooms where these girls can webcam out of."

And while it's not the lap of luxury, each of IMM's webcam rooms is fully equipped with freshly washed sheets on the bed, a laptop with a high def camera, the best of high speed internet, a variety of toys, and a webcam set for duos and shows.

"Our camhouse environment is safe and professional," Corey assured.

According to a press release recently issued by IMM, anyone choosing to webcam through the company can expect "a dynamic and passionate staff who use their superior marketing strategy to increase their web traffic."

"Ideal Image Camhouse models are able to work from home or the studio, enjoy flexible schedules, and receive the all-important same day pay," the company said.

Currently, the IMM feeds are being handled by Streamate, but the company is in talks with several ISPs to insure that the studio has enough speed and bandwidth to service multiple streams at the same time.

And perhaps best of all, the studio is available for both new models and experienced porn stars, and they don't have to be IMM clients in order to take advantage of the offer.

IMM suggests that interested models should follow the company's Twitter feed for updates and announcements, or for more specific information, email Fred, or call the studio at 818-886-4424.

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Posted May 10th, 2012 02:47 PM

DALLAS—All-natural lubricant and lotion manufacturer, Sliquid has reformulated and re-branded its men's delay spray to complement the Ride line of products made especially for men. Ride Rock has emerged as a benzocaine-based male desensitizer created to enhance stamina and prolong the joys of intimate relations.

Ride Rock is currently in production and will be ready to ship this summer.

Sliquid's new and improved Ride Rock delay spray now features the following ingredients: 7.5 percent benzocaine, aloe vera, banana leaf extract, propylene glycol and peg-400. Ride Rock reduces sensitivity without compromising sensation, enabling men to last longer and increase the pleasure shared between couples. Sliquid's latest development reinforces the company's commitment to bringing consumers products with pleasure enhancers that are the most effective and completely safe for men and women alike.

Ride Rock strengthens the Ride brand with a product to fulfill a man's desire to last longer in bed, coupled by its distinct packaging that falls in line with the masculine aesthetic that that has garnered both a heterosexual and gay following. 

"Careful reformulation by the Sliquid team went into perfecting Ride Rock and I couldn't be more proud of the results," said Dean Elliott, owner of Sliquid. "Ride Rock delay spray helps men achieve the universal goal of performing at their ultimate potential in the bedroom, further solidifying Ride as the go-to brand for men."

The Ride roundup of products features Dude Lube in silicone, water-based and hybrid varieties, Ride Rub Stroke Oil masturbation formula and Ride Razor Shave Cream in two scents.

For more information or to place an order for Sliquid's Ride Rock and other Ride products, call (800) SLIQUID or email sales@sliquid.com.

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HOLLYWOOD—The mainstream media's fascination with James Deen continues to percolate with a piece on this evening's edition of celebrity news program The Insider.

Touted as a glimpse inside the world of "the young porn star who looks like the all-American guy next door," the segment finds Deen ... well, doing whatever it is Deen does.

In typical James Deen fashion, he told AVN, "They did some interview and followed me around for a morning. I do things."

The Insider airs on CBS; check local listings for show times.

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HOLLYWOOD—The mainstream media's fascination with James Deen continues to percolate with a piece on this evening's edition of celebrity news program The Insider.

Touted as a glimpse inside the world of "the young porn star who looks like the all-American guy next door," the segment finds Deen ... well, doing whatever it is Deen does.

In typical James Deen fashion, he told AVN, "They did some interview and followed me around for a morning. I do things."

The Insider airs on CBS; check local listings for show times.

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WASHINGTON, D.C.—Bigots in the House of Representatives continue to approve legislation that is intended to thwart what they see as the president's "gay agenda." Yesterday, on the same day that President Obama made history by expressing his personal support for same-sex marriage, the House Armed Services Committee voted to approve amendments to the 2013 defense authorization that would prohibit such marriages from taking place on U.S. military bases, while also protecting chaplains and other service members from being "persecuted" for expressing their opposition to homosexuals in the military.

As with similar legislative efforts that cover educators, these bills or amendments, which have been attempted several times before, are promoted as necessary to protect the beliefs of American citizens, even if those beliefs impinge upon the rights of other citizens. In this case, the sponsor of the amendment to protect anti-gay expression, Rep. Todd Akin, R-Mo., said the amendment, which passed 36-25, is necessary because the 2011 repeal of the military’s gay ban has forced bigoted and/or religious service members to, as Fox News put it, "hide their beliefs out of fear of recrimination."

"This is trying to protect the ability of people to have their own opinion,” said Akin, a Republican congressman out of Missouri running for the U.S. Senate who also has had the moral fortitude to state publicly, "The president has repealed `don't ask, don't tell' and is using the military as props to promote his gay agenda."

The other anti-gay amendment passed yesterday by the panel, to deny same-sex marriages on military bases, was sponsored by Rep. Steve Palazzo (R-Miss.), who is trying to overturn current Defense Department policy, which allows private same-sex ceremonies to take place on bases.

This is not the first anti-gay go-round for Akin, who previously sponsored a similar amendment to the one now being hawked by Palazzo.

According to Navy Times, "Akin was an opponent of lifting the gay ban. In 2010, just before the military’s policy changed, he convinced the House Armed Services Committee to pass an amendment prohibiting same-sex marriages from occurring on military bases only to have the provision stricken from the final bill during negotiations with the White House and Senate. This is the same prohibition that Palazzo is now sponsoring."

A similar excision will take place this time as well, which is probably why Akin wants to move into the Senate, where he can work with House bigots to see some of these hate bills passed and sent to the president's desk, where, once the current gay-lover is dealt with, a 'real American' can sign them into law.

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WASHINGTON, D.C.—Bigots in the House of Representatives continue to approve legislation that is intended to thwart what they see as the president's "gay agenda." Yesterday, on the same day that President Obama made history by expressing his personal support for same-sex marriage, the House Armed Services Committee voted to approve amendments to the 2013 defense authorization that would prohibit such marriages from taking place on U.S. military bases, while also protecting chaplains and other service members from being "persecuted" for expressing their opposition to homosexuals in the military.

As with similar legislative efforts that cover educators, these bills or amendments, which have been attempted several times before, are promoted as necessary to protect the beliefs of American citizens, even if those beliefs impinge upon the rights of other citizens. In this case, the sponsor of the amendment to protect anti-gay expression, Rep. Todd Akin, R-Mo., said the amendment, which passed 36-25, is necessary because the 2011 repeal of the military’s gay ban has forced bigoted and/or religious service members to, as Fox News put it, "hide their beliefs out of fear of recrimination."

"This is trying to protect the ability of people to have their own opinion,” said Akin, a Republican congressman out of Missouri running for the U.S. Senate who also has had the moral fortitude to state publicly, "The president has repealed `don't ask, don't tell' and is using the military as props to promote his gay agenda."

The other anti-gay amendment passed yesterday by the panel, to deny same-sex marriages on military bases, was sponsored by Rep. Steve Palazzo (R-Miss.), who is trying to overturn current Defense Department policy, which allows private same-sex ceremonies to take place on bases.

This is not the first anti-gay go-round for Akin, who previously sponsored a similar amendment to the one now being hawked by Palazzo.

According to Navy Times, "Akin was an opponent of lifting the gay ban. In 2010, just before the military’s policy changed, he convinced the House Armed Services Committee to pass an amendment prohibiting same-sex marriages from occurring on military bases only to have the provision stricken from the final bill during negotiations with the White House and Senate. This is the same prohibition that Palazzo is now sponsoring."

A similar excision will take place this time as well, which is probably why Akin wants to move into the Senate, where he can work with House bigots to see some of these hate bills passed and sent to the president's desk, where, once the current gay-lover is dealt with, a 'real American' can sign them into law.

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Posted May 10th, 2012 01:01 PM

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif.—SexToyDistributing.com has welcomed Ian Rath as head of Video Marketing to enhance the online distributor’s retail support with a series of product education and general information videos. Rath brings decades of video production experience, as well as intimate knowledge of the myriad sexual lifestyles to which the adult market caters.

Rath will play a key role in SexToyDistributing.com’s retail support base by creating clear, concise and entertaining video clips that offer its customers the key points and product features essential to making a sale. His extensive knowledge of adult products and the various sexual acts, niches and kinks that they indulge makes Rath an especially unique asset.

“I’m excited to be part of the Sex Toy Distributing family,” Rath said. “Producing educational videos is going to be a key part of my job, as well as creating short informational videos explaining products. The more knowledge consumers have the better choices they’ll make—and as a result, they’ll be more willing to act on their fantasies!”

Sex Toy Distributing’s videos will be viewable online at its YouTube channel as well as its own video section at SexToyDistributing.com.

“This video series is for anyone looking to learn something new or augment their existing knowledge with tips, tricks and details about changing technologies and evolving sexual trends,” SexToyDistributing.com representative Beth Brown said. “There’s always more to learn—the more you know about adult products, the more comfortable you are using and selling them.”

Sex Toy Distributing also will bring in guest speakers to make its educational videos even more valuable to its retail support base.

Rath is an Internet veteran, having produced, directed and starred in hundreds of professional bondage and dom/sub scenes and taught various workshops and classes within the sex education realm. He can be reached via email at ian@sextoydistributing.com.

Become a Sex Toy Distributing customer today! Visit SexToyDistributing.com, or email beth@sextoydistributing.com for registration information.

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Posted May 10th, 2012 01:01 PM

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif.—SexToyDistributing.com has welcomed Ian Rath as head of Video Marketing to enhance the online distributor’s retail support with a series of product education and general information videos. Rath brings decades of video production experience, as well as intimate knowledge of the myriad sexual lifestyles to which the adult market caters.

Rath will play a key role in SexToyDistributing.com’s retail support base by creating clear, concise and entertaining video clips that offer its customers the key points and product features essential to making a sale. His extensive knowledge of adult products and the various sexual acts, niches and kinks that they indulge makes Rath an especially unique asset.

“I’m excited to be part of the Sex Toy Distributing family,” Rath said. “Producing educational videos is going to be a key part of my job, as well as creating short informational videos explaining products. The more knowledge consumers have the better choices they’ll make—and as a result, they’ll be more willing to act on their fantasies!”

Sex Toy Distributing’s videos will be viewable online at its YouTube channel as well as its own video section at SexToyDistributing.com.

“This video series is for anyone looking to learn something new or augment their existing knowledge with tips, tricks and details about changing technologies and evolving sexual trends,” SexToyDistributing.com representative Beth Brown said. “There’s always more to learn—the more you know about adult products, the more comfortable you are using and selling them.”

Sex Toy Distributing also will bring in guest speakers to make its educational videos even more valuable to its retail support base.

Rath is an Internet veteran, having produced, directed and starred in hundreds of professional bondage and dom/sub scenes and taught various workshops and classes within the sex education realm. He can be reached via email at ian@sextoydistributing.com.

Become a Sex Toy Distributing customer today! Visit SexToyDistributing.com, or email beth@sextoydistributing.com for registration information.

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Posted May 10th, 2012 12:32 PM

PHOENIX—Entrenue has debuted three exclusive collections from the Steele Malone glass studio, bringing hand-crafted Venetian-style glass insertables—fondly named Dilettos—to the U.S. adult retail market. Each one-of-a-kind piece features an artisan aesthetic and a distinctly heavier weight that only hand-blown glass sex toys can provide, presenting passionate users with a sensational erotic experience. 

The Entrenue Curious Collection features Taste, a red diletto with a swooping tongue shape; Wet, a blue Diletto with a flared base ideal for strap-on use; Passion Without Apology, a G-spot Diletto with a sweeping G-spot curve; Kiss Me in the Garden, a vivid green S-curve diletto; and Meet Me, an aqua Diletto with an elegant G-spot arc and stimulating droplet accents.

The Origins Collection features Diletto designs styled after the essential elements of mother nature: Air/Water with green, blue and yellow tones; Water with blue tones; Earth with brown and green tones; and Fire with a bold red hue.

The Primal Collection features Diletto designs inspired by wild animals with patterns, colors and auras dictated by nature and admired by man: the sleek Cheetah, the sophisticated and showy Peacock; and the simple and graceful Zebra.   

“We brought Steele Malone—the man behind the self-titled brand—into the Entrenue family after meeting him and hearing his inspirational story,” Entrenue Brand and Marketing Director Lisa Mazurek said. “As he spoke, he emanated an intoxicating passion and talent that is apparent in each of his Dilettos. We believe Steele and his products’ arousing energy will inspire people to see and feel their inner beauty and celebrate their own healthy, unique erotic nature.”

Steele Malone Dilettos are created using the ancient Venetian glass-making technique that originated inVenice, the City ofLove, a method that makes each piece look unlike the next and hold a noticeably heavier weight than most widely manufactured glass products. This weight feels better in the hand and provides a more powerful stimulation sensation inside the body.

Each piece is silky smooth to the touch and features seductive layers of color impossible to emulate in mass production, making Steele Malone Dilettos one part sex toy and one part work of art.

For more information about Steel Malone, call (800) 368-7268, email info@entrenue.com or visit Entrenue.com.

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Posted May 10th, 2012 12:07 PM

FERNDALE, Mich.—Nalpac LTD has partnered with California Exotics in presenting the newest items from California Exotic’s line of beginners' toys, the First Time Collection. The final seven items of the January 2012 release are available exclusively from Nalpac throughout the month of May.

California Exotics has expanded the line again with seven new items to this new popular and affordable line of adult toys, all in shapes and sizes intended for the beginner toy users.

“We are very excited that California Exotics choose to partner with us on the release. We are always looking to provide our customers with the latest and best adult novelties for all users, whether beginners or advanced. The First Time Collection from California Exotics is the perfect place for a beginner to start,” said Don Zerilli, senior buyer and marketing coordinator.

For more information, or to place an order, visit Nalpac.com or contact your Nalpac account representative toll free at (800) 837-5946 or email sales@nalpac.com.

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UNITED KINGDOM—Granted, it sounds so inoffensive coming from the Queen's lips. How, indeed, could such a pleasant royal ever overstep the boundaries of propriety, even if what she's asking for—nay, demanding!—are the keys to the box in which many of your most private thoughts are stored? Wednesday, in opening the new session of Parliament, the Queen, as anticipated, did nevertheless announce long-simmering plans by the government to codify in law its authority to monitor the online activity of citizens who live in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

"My government," she stated, "intends to bring forward measures to maintain the ability of the law enforcement and intelligence agencies to access vital communications data under strict safeguards to protect the public, subject to scrutiny of draft clauses."

According to The Register, "It's unclear if those 'strict safeguards' mean that a warrant, for example, would be needed before spooks could access such data. The rough proposal appeared to only fuzzily indicate that such protection for British citizens would be provided, however."

One is not completely in the dark as to the government's intentions, however. The plans have been an open secret since before the formation of the Coalition, and a document since issued by the Home Office provides an outline of what to expect, including the bill's main "benefits," which include:

* The ability of the police and intelligence agencies to continue to access communications data which is vital in supporting their work in protecting the public.

* An updated framework for the collection, retention and acquisition of communications data which enables a flexible response to technological change."

As The Register has noted, however, despite assurances from the government that the expansion of powers is necessary and will not include looking at actual communications but only data about the communications, "many have complained that the cabinet minister's reassurances are unfounded given that the net-snooping plan would involve [British intelligence] operatives monitoring everything an individual does online, if not snoop on the content of messages."

The article added, "The time and duration of communications would be probed, as would telephone numbers or email addresses that have been contacted, and 'sometimes the location of the originator of the communication.'"

Despite the lack of technical details provided by either the Queen or the Home Office, the requested expansion of powers was originally expected to be inserted into other related bills but is now being offered as a standalone bill, which will bring with it greater scrutiny by members of Parliament.

As AVN has recently reported, similar efforts are underway in the States.

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CHATSWORTH, Calif.—Smash Pictures has announced plans to jump aboard the Fifty Shades of Grey bandwagon and will hold auditions next Wednesday, May 16, for the smash literary series' (pun intended) principal characters, Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey.

In an interesting twist, however, Smash is leaping directly to the series' second installment, Fifty Shades Darker, for its take on the franchise, so as not to to produce a competing release with Adult Source Media's already-announced project for its Intimate Encounters line based on the first novel.

"Instead of jumping on the same script, we're diving headfirst into shooting volume two," Smash president Stuart Wall said. "This will be our biggest feature film to date. We'll be shooting at the end of June, and we've already received phone calls from Businessweek and other mainstream news media pertaining to our XXX romance adaptation of this book."

For the part of Steele, Smash is seeking a "20-year-old college girl, fresh newbie to the business, submissive to play the young virgin part." For Grey, the studio wants a male "25-35 age range, with acting abilities."

The audition takes place from 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Smash Pictures office, with Wall and director Jim Powers judging the hopefuls, who will be asked to read passages from the book. For more information, talent and agents may email stuart@smashpictures.com.

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OAK CREEK, Wisc.—A local ABC News affiliate has reported that charges have been filed against an unnamed Oak Creek man for giving his son pornographic DVDs over the course of several years, beginning when the boy was in the fifth or sixth grade.

"The child told police that he was given five to 10 pornographic videos on DVD each week, and that his father would then want to discuss the videos with him," reported wisn.com. "The child told investigators that he 'watched about 100 movies' during the period outlined in the complaint."

The father is charged with exposing a minor to "harmful material," a felony that carries a maximum sentence of up to three years and six months in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

The article does not indicate how authorities learned of the porn watching, where the boy's mom is, the types of movies the kid was given or whether there was any alleged damage to the boy caused by watching the movies. The man said he was trying to be a good dad, but also reportedly told investigators that he also knew letting his son watch the movies was wrong.

The details of this case may warrant charges, but they could also indicate intrusion by the state into the private activity between a father and his son. Assuming the former would be a big mistake.

Indeed, what are the exact rules for parents that would give them some assurance that the government will not intercede in their education of their own children and throw them in jail for "exposing" them to "harmful material."

Where is that list of "harmful material" again? It seems to have gone missing.

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Posted May 10th, 2012 07:32 AM

CHATSWORTH, Calif.—The success of Earthly Body’s WaterSlide personal lubricant is no secret. As a top seller at Hustler Hollywood, this all-natural lube is free of parabens, silicones, sticky glycerins and preservatives. With the popularity of this lubricant, Earthly Body now introduces WaterSlide in a conveniently sized 1-ounce travel bottle. This discreet new size makes Earthly Body lube a must-have item for your next weekend getaway trip.

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It’s clear the public has taken notice of the natural benefits of Earthly Body Waterslide.  Hustler Hollywood Corporate buyer Briana Honz remarked that, “Earthly Body WaterSlide is Hustler Hollywood’s third best selling personal lubricant, across the board, company wide.”

Try WaterSlide for yourself, and experience the moisturizing benefits of all natural lubrication.

WaterSlide is available online and in select stores in your area. For a closer look at this lubricant and other Earthly Body products, visit EarthlyBody.com.

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Posted May 09th, 2012 06:28 PM

LOS ANGELES— Andrea Weiss Jeffries, an attorney representing ICM in Manwin v. ICM Registry, an antitrust lawsuit brought last year by Manwin and Digital Playground against ICM and ICANN, has filed a response to Manwin's First Amended Complaint of Feb. 17. The filing was on May 8, the last day given by the court for the response.

"Exclusionary or anticompetitive conduct is an indispensable element of any Sherman Act claim," states Jeffries in the culmination of her 25-page rebuttal. "Having failed to make this showing with respect to either ICM or ICANN, Plaintiffs should not be permitted to proceed with this case."

The plaintiffs now have 30 days, up to and including June 8, to file an opposition to this response to the First Amended Complaint, and then ICM and ICANN will have until June 29 to file replies in support of their motions. The court will hear oral arguments on the motions on July 30 at 1:30 p.m., the court has ordered.

The reply to the Amended Complaint is here.

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RALEIGH, N.C.—Back in 1956, North Carolina voters passed their first constitutional amendment, which according to the Associated Press would "guarantee[] that no child in the state will be required to attend an integrated school against its will. ... It would allow the citizens of local school administrative units to vote to close their schools if integration moves caused 'intolerable' situations. It also would allow the use of state and local funds to pay private tuition for children whose parents objected to their attending an integrated public school."

Boy, those were the good old days, weren't they?

Well, don't worry; North Carolina voters are apparently just as ignorant and bigoted as they were 56 years ago, only this time the boogeypersons are gays and lesbians.

As The New York Times pointed out in an editorial last month, North Carolina already has a law prohibiting men from marrying men and women from marrying women—and it's unclear if anyone down there has ever even heard of transsexuals—but sticklers as they are for details, the state's legislature (mostly Republican, natch!) decided that just passing a law was not enough. For the second time in history, they had to change the state's Constitution as well! After all, look how well it worked out for them the first time they did it! (Indeed; that first change wasn't revoked until 1971.)

As The Times also pointed out, the amendment isn't even phrased very well, in that it also eliminates all legal recognition for civil unions and domestic partnerships, which even hetero couples enter into—and that's a Bad Thing because it "could harm all unmarried couples, imperiling some children’s health insurance benefits, along with child custody arrangements and safeguards against domestic violence."

The fight for marriage equality continues to be an uphill battle, especially with some political leaders coming late to the battle, and the latest poll from Pew Research shows that 43 percent of the public still opposes that obvious right—"nor shall any State ... deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws," remember?—but that's down from the 57 percent that opposed it a decade ago.

And if North Carolinians aren't familiar with their country's Constitution, couldn't they at least have looked at who was supporting the measure, and why?

For instance, take the wife of the measure's sponsor, Sen. Peter Brunstetter. His wife Jodie was overheard telling someone that, "The reason my husband wrote Amendment 1 was because the Caucasian race is diminishing and we need to uh, reproduce."

See? It's not about discriminating against gays; it's about the "fact" that, apparently, most gays are white and the "fact" that gays don't reproduce, so if the state doesn't allow gays to marry each other, all those gay white men will marry white women, have kids, and Jodie Brunstetter will be safe from all the "coloreds."

But as Jodie told reporter Chad Nance, "If I did [say that], it wasn’t anything race-related." Good to know!

And then there was Pastor Sean Harris of Fayetteville's Berean Baptist Church, who gave his flock a "special dispensation" to do violence to their children:

"When your little son starts acting a little girlish when he's four years old, and squashing that like a cockroach, and say, 'Man up, son. Get that dress off you and get outside and dig a ditch because that's what boys do'... Dads, the second you see your son dropping the limp wrist, you walk over there and crack that wrist. Man up! Give him a good punch, okay? 'You're not gonna act like that. You were made by God to be a male and you're gonna be a male.' And when your daughter starts acting too butch, you rein her in and you say, 'Oh, no; oh, no, sweetheart. You can play sports; play 'em; play 'em to the glory of God, but sometimes you're gonna act like a girl and walk like a girl and talk like a girl and smell like a girl and that means you're gonna be beautiful, you're gonna be attractive and you're gonna dress yourself up.'"

After that, senile old Rev. Billy Graham sounded, well, senile when he exhorted voters that, "I believe the home and marriage is the foundation of our society and must be protected. The Bible is clear: God’s definition of marriage is between a man and a woman. I want to urge my fellow North Carolinians to vote for the marriage amendment."

Even Albert Mohler Jr., president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary just across the border in Louisville, Kentucky, had a few choice words in his critique of The New York Times' editorial.

"The effort to limit marriage to the union of a man and a woman is described as 'obvious discrimination,'" Mohler wrote. "That is meant to insinuate that the effort is therefore wrong, and even immoral. But that is just not intellectually honest. Discrimination—even 'obvious discrimination'—is not necessarily wrong at all. Indeed, any sane society discriminates at virtually every turn, as do individuals. ... Often, we discriminate on moral terms. No sane person would ask a convicted child molester to be a baby sitter. No sane society would elect a known embezzler as state treasurer. These acts of discrimination are necessary and morally right."

Yeah! 'Cause, y'know, gays and lesbians are every bit as immoral as child molesters and embezzlers—just ask Al!

What isn't too well known, though, is who spent the big bucks to fund the "Yes on Amendment One" campaign. Would it surprise anyone to know that the Christian Action League dropped over $300,000 into the "Yes" coffers, and that the National Organization for Marriage ante'd up about the same? That the North Carolina Values Coalition and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Raleigh each kicked $50,000; the American Family Association and Bayleaf Baptist Church were good for about $20,000 each, and conservative radio station and bookstore owner Phil Drake thought the issue was worth donating a cool quarter of a million to?

But, of course, North Carolina businesses were four-square in favor of marriage equality, right?

<crickets chirping>

"Corporations have been silent," reported BusinessWeek's Emery Dalesio. "North Carolina's chamber of commerce hasn't heard much from its members on the amendment and is staying neutral, CEO Lew Ebert said. ... Business leaders who support the amendment have stayed silent for fear of becoming targets of boycotts and public attacks."

Wow! I guess all those Republicans who've been saying that businesses will all do The Right Thing if we give them all those tax breaks were absolutely right!

Well, at least one group is trying to make North Carolina pay for its bigotry. GayMarriageUSA is petitioning the Democratic National Convention Committee to move its convention, which will take place in Charlotte in September, "to a state that upholds values of equality & liberty, and which treats ALL citizens equally."

Admittedly, it's a bit late to make such a change, but in the current Near-Depression, surely there are dozens of cities that would move (if you'll pardon the expression) heaven and earth to make room for all the people (and their wallets) who will flock to such a gathering—and after just one day, their petition already has over 14,000 signatures.

Won't you add yours by clicking here?

Image above from the website Every1against1.com.

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CYBERSPACE—Village Voice Media is in a pickle. The pressure to no longer take lucrative prostitution and escort ads on Backpage.com increases with every day, but so does the amount of traffic coming into the adult services sections, and perhaps more significantly, so does the ad revenue.  

According to AIM Group, the acknowledged "bible" of data and analysis of the classified advertising industry, Backpage is the leader by a wide margin in revenue generated from online prostitution ads. In fact, according to recent analysis by AIM, "Traffic to U.S. websites that publish escort and body-rub ads hit a record in March, while five of those sites sold at least $3.2 million in online prostitution ads during the month," and Backpage.com accounted for a large majority of that revenue.

"Backpage.com, the general classified-advertising site owned by Village Voice Media, generated at least $2.6 million in online prostitution ad revenue during March–81 percent of the total–and had nearly 3.4 million unique visits," the analysis concluded. "Revenue was 2.7 percent higher than February, and 33.4 percent higher than March 2011. Unique visits to Backpage.com were up 8.1 percent from the previous month and 11.6 percent from March 2011."

In case there was any doubt about Backpage's standing, the report stated, "Backpage is the leading U.S. site for prostitution advertising, a position it assumed in 2010 when Craigslist stopped publishing ads for adult services such as escorts and body rubs."

It was during that same time period that the full focus of state attorneys general around the country started to call attention to Backpage.com in an attempt to replicate the same result they had with Craigslist. But the Village Voice, which has steadfastly maintained that it takes child protection very seriously and works closely with multiple law enforcement agencies to identify, track and locate child abusers who use their sites, has proven to be a far more determined adversary.

In recent months, pressure from people like New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof has increased, as has efforts by politicians calling for the voluntary closure of the sex ads pages. Just Monday, in fact, freshman Congressman Robert Turner (R-N.Y.) introduced a resolution that calls on Village Voice Media to shutter the adult entertainment section.

Turner's resolution, H.Res. 646, outlines the recent wave of public pressure against Village Voice to terminate its adult-themed classified ads. It also lists eight specific examples of people who were arrested for sex trafficking, all of whom used Backpage.com to advertise.

According to The Hill, "After six full pages of findings, the resolution concludes that the House 'calls on Village Voice Media Holdings LLC to act as a responsible global citizen and immediately eliminate the 'adult entertainment' section of the classified advertising website Backpage.com to terminate the website's rampant facilitation of online sex trafficking.'"

To support its position, the Rep's resolution contains findings contained in the same March analysis by AIM, which, while it does provide clear data indicating the popularity of Backpage.com, addresses in general the issue of underage ads on sites like Backpage.com but does not provide any data regarding the alleged number of underage ads on the site or the amount of traffic or revenue associated with underage ads.

It does mention, however, changes made by Backpage to its adult section, as well as a law in Washington state that requires "websites that operate within the state to obtain documentation that advertised escorts are at least 18 years old," and also mentions the fact that the ongoing controversy forced "two private equity firms, GS Capital Partners III (run by Goldman Sachs) and Trimaran Capital Partners, [decided] to sell their interests in Village Voice Media back to VVM."

The report also mentions, however, that "The U.S. Communications Decency Act protects publishers of online advertising posted directly by advertisers if the ads have not been reviewed before they appear online—even if they promote prostitution or include illegal references to discrimination in housing, for example."

Of equal interest, the AIM report analyzed revenue derived from prostitution ads in 23 American cities, and studied 24 websites that either "sell listings or prostitution in other ways."

According to the collected data, "Of those 24, we are able to compute revenue based on the number of listings and published advertising rates for six—Backpage.com, Eros.com, CityVible.com, MyRedbook.com, Escorts.com (which closed June 1, 2011) and AdultSearch.com.

"We can also count listings on three additional sites—NaughtyReviews.com, Eccie.com, and A1List.net (which stopped publishing ads in July).

"For the remaining 15, we track only unique visitors because the other data is not publicly available or because the sites have so little traffic that their revenues or listings would be insignificant. Those sites are TheEroticReview.com, Sipsap.com, Preferred411.com, SexyEscortAds.com, BigDoggie.net, LocalEscortPages.com, HotLocalEscorts.com, MyProviderGuide.com, TNABoard.com, FindHotEscorts.com, EscortGuide.com, EroticServicesGuide.com, EpicDreams.com, Escortme.com, and BarebackEscorts.com."

The numbers provide a fascinating glimpse into the not-so-netherworld of online prostitution and escort ads, and highlight the prominence of Backpage.com in the pecking order.

For instance, of the top ten most-visited sites in March, Backpage.com dominated with 3,364,762 unique visitors (an 8.1 percent increase from the previous month), with the second place finisher, AdultSearch.com, claiming 746,300 uniques, for a 20 percent increase. The third place finisher, The Erotic Review.com, had only 296,902 unique visitors in March, an increase of 8.2 percent, and the numbers decrease thereafter until the 10th place finisher, TNABoard.com, which had only 88,356 visitors in March, but could claim an increase of 38.6 percent over the previous month.

The report also provides monthly revenue estimates derived from prostitution ads from April 2011 for the top six earning sites, with Backpage.com once again leading the pack.

Of course, despite the fact that Backpage.com is regularly accused of being the leading destination for sex-trafficked minors in the country, the service insists that the vast majority of ads are placed legally by adults, and it continues to contend that closing the adult services sections will hamper the ability of law enforcement to identify and prosecute criminals who abuse minors in this manner. The incessant calls for VVM to close the sections, however, will no doubt continue to increase in number and volume.

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Posted May 08th, 2012 06:37 PM

LOS ANGELES—Director Nica Noelle and leading VOD site AEBN have announced plans to expand their adult studios with the addition of new TS-themed line, TransRomantic Films. The innovative new line will feature transsexual performers in starring roles, and reflect the "real sex" approach of the duo's existing studios Girl Candy Films and Hard Candy Films.

Rising TS starlet Amy Daly stars in the studio's first release, Forbidden Lovers, along with male performer Christian X, and character actors Ian Whitcomb and Erica Lauren.

"The scene Nica directed with Christian and I was trans-positive, romantic, and extremely sexy," Daly said. "The whole experience reminded me why I love my job. I'm very excited to be a part of this new direction in TS films."

Forbidden Lovers also stars Sarina Valentina, Brittany St. Jordan, Spencer Fox and Robert Axel in emotionally rich, complex vignettes.

"This studio is very special to me," said creator Noelle. "It's long been a dream of mine to work with beautiful TS performers, and the fan response has been overwhelming. The TS adult community has been so welcoming, and I want to make them proud."

"My philosophy as a pornographer is pretty simple: humans get turned on by watching other humans have sex, and the more real and passionate the sex, the more arousing for the viewer," she added. "If that's true for straight and lesbian porn fans, why wouldn't it be true for fans of TS porn?"

"There has been a void in the market for well-written romantic TS movies," AEBN VP Jerry Anders said. "I wanted to see what Nica could do in this genre and of course so far it has been brilliant."

"Anyone who's looking for transsexual films with better writing and more seduction is going to love TransRomantic Films," said Daly.

TransRomantic Films debut release Forbidden Lovers will premiere exclusively on AEBN.net in May.

Pictured: A scene from Forbidden Lovers

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LOS ANGELES—The Taser, which is marketed as a non-lethal device widely used by law enforcement agencies throughout the world in place of more lethal techniques, has long been associated with the death of individuals despite the fact that over 99 percent of people who are subjected to it are not seriously injured as a direct result. Still, since Tasers were approved for use by police officers in 1999, 277 people have died after receiving the shock, according to an ABC News article published in 2007. Since then, more have died, and now, the first scientific, peer-reviewed study has been published that finds evidence Tasers can cause cardiac arrest and death.

The study, which was published by the American Heart Association, was conducted because the safety of electronic control devices (ECD) has been questioned, and was designed to "analyze in detail cases of loss of consciousness associated with ECD deployment."

According to the study abstract, "Eight cases of TASER X26 ECD-induced loss of consciousness were studied. In each instance, when available, police, medical and emergency response records, ECD dataport interrogation, automated external defibrillator (AED) information, ECG strips, depositions, and autopsy results were analyzed. ... This report offers evidence regarding the mechanism by which an ECD can produce transthoracic stimulation resulting in cardiac electrical capture and ventricular arrhythmias leading to cardiac arrest."

The study concludes definitely, "ECD stimulation can cause cardiac electrical capture and provoke cardiac arrest due to ventricular tachycardia (rapid heartbeat)/ventricular fibrillation (severely abnormal heart rhythm). After prolonged ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation without resuscitation, asystole (flatlining) develops."

As noted in an article on the study published by the International Business Times, Tasers have thus far been linked to three deaths in 2012, including that of adult performer Marland Anderson, aka Sledge Hammer, who died April 8 after being removed from life support by his mother following an altercation with police officers five days earlier, during which he was reportedly Tasered twice.

An autopsy conducted by the Los Angeles Coroner was inconclusive, and a cause of death has not yet been entered as the coroner awaits the results of toxicology tests. Now, with the release of this study, there is the possibility that there will be renewed attention given to the role of the Taser in Anderson's death, especially in light of the fact that the Department of Justice, which continues to defend the use of Tasers, publicly stated in a May 2011 report that the death of people shot with a Taser was often due to improper use of the device by officers.

"A review of deaths following [Taser] exposure found that many are associated with continuous or repeated shocks," the report stated. "There may be circumstances in which repeated or continuous exposure is required, but law enforcement officers should be aware that the associated risks are unknown. Therefore, caution is urged in using multiple activations."

Despite its alarming conclusions, the study is not likely to impact the current use of Tasers, which previous research has determined are safe for use by the police, but it is also certain to reignite the charge that too many officers resort to the use of the device too quickly, and in circumstances that could be dealt with by other means.

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TOKYO—Some fans will simply not take no for an answer. A Japanese man spurned by Japanese actress Aoi Sora, who was apparently not interested in following the man on Twitter, has sued the star in court, according to The Tokyo Reporter, which reported that the unnamed man is "in his 40s, claiming to be a writer and critic of topics related to education."

As AVN has previously reported, Aoi, who commands a huge following in China, was an instant sensation in 2010 when she opened a Twitter account on March 30 of that year. In less than two weeks, she had 30,000 followers, and the number has kept climbing ever since. Today, she is reported to have 325,000 followers, but not her frustrated suitor, who, according to the article, "made demands on a daily basis."

“I am a fan of yours; please follow me,” he would tweet. “Please consider following,” “How’s work? Your English is getting better. Please follow me.”

Seeing no response, he sued.

That apparently got some fans of Aoi steamed, and people started looking into the fellow. “Through research, it was discovered that he had been making similar requests to Toru Hashimoto, Michiko Shimizu, and other celebrities, and was also being disregarded," the article stated.

Pressed, "the man then explained in vain that he made the requests in order to find out what actually happened regarding Aoi being singled out in a controversy that surfaced in China."

Following the spectacular embrace of certain celebrities by hordes of Chinese citizens, the "State Administration of Radio, Film and Television in April demanded that satellite television stations prohibit controversial personalities, including Aoi, from appearing in programming."

Then, according to the article, the performer's fans got ugly. "Online users, upset about the litigator’s demands, utilized the educator’s blog and Facebook page to expose his work background and residential address."

Seems the vile PornWikileaks mentality is not limited to Westerners. 

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