christophe thinks out loud

Electric Cowbells

It's entirely possible that the Rad Monkey Electronic Cowbells are not, in fact, real, and that this is a parody.

It's possible.

Kung Fu Monkey on Canada and Gay Marriage

Read this. It's brilliant.

The headline alone makes it

From the BBC: “Underwater gnome threat 'returns'”

Ours is a Nation of Laws...

... except those inconvenient ones that keep us from enforcing laws that are more important.

The REAL ID act would place the Secretary of Homeland Security above the law, and allow him to waive any law that he, in his sole discretion, conflicts with national security. It would also eliminate judicial review for this power.

In all likelihood, being a Federal law, it would also allow him to waive any state law.

I'm sure he'll only use this power for good.

(From Fafblog, which rocks.)

What is the Social Security Crisis of which you speak?

That commie, left-ist pinko rag The Economist has a very good editorial on the supposed Social Security “crisis.”

In summary:

1. The system is not going to go bankrupt, even on current predictions.
2. While private accounts may be a virtue for other reasons, they are not required to keep the system solvent.
3. In the short term, private accounts will make the overall government financial position much worse.

The best quote is:

The long-term burden of Mr Bush's first-term tax cuts and spending increases is three times bigger than the looming Social Security shortfall. Pension reform is desirable; but it will not solve America's long-term fiscal problems, and if its political price is an out-of-control budget, that would be a serious mistake.

The focus on private accounts is misguided, but let us not kid ourselves: This plan is about delivering billions (trillions, potentially) of dollars into private financial sector care, a windfall of astonishing proportions. It is a wealth transfer from the government to the rich, which is the defining financial policy of the current administration.

Just another day in liberal San Francisco

In brief, SF Muni fare inspectors and SFPD cops threaten to arrest someone under a non-existent law against taking photographs in Muni stations, and then threaten to trump up a bogus trespassing charge when the photographer refuses to be bullied.

My favorite part is where the cop accuses the photographer of wasting his time.

Picture

It's been a while since I've put a new picture up here. This is from a somewhat impromptu shoot on February 10th.

Ikea Kills

I told you that Ikea was dangerous.

Sex Workers' Art Show

Well, this looks interesting. I'll try to check it out when it comes to San Francisco.

Blowfish Friends and Lovers #1

I'm writing this while reviewing the latest edit for the next Blowfish video, Blowfish Friends and Lovers, #1. It's the first in our series of tapes of “real couples” being interviewing about sex and performing, and then having sex for the camera.

The editor did a really superb job on this one, and made quite the silk purse out of the sow's ear of footage from my camera (camera 1 was run by a professional, and was much, much better). He even managed to work around the recycling truck that made a mess of the audio of the first interview segment.

The music is also really good. I love working with professionals.

Today was a really, really crummy day, but I now remember how much I enjoy what I do for a living.

Do as we say, not as we do, eBay Division

PayPal has strict policies against processing payments for adult material.

Unless, of course, that adult material is being sold off of eBay, which owns PayPal.

If they catch you processing payment for adult material through them, they'll embargo the money in your account for 180 days. Getting 180 days free interest on nasty porno money has nothing to do with it. PayPal wouldn't sully themselves like that. They need to sit on your cash for 180 days to make sure, um, the money isn't infected with sex industry cooties, or something. It's for your own good.

Thus does sex make hypocrites of us all.

And in case you were wondering why Blowfish doesn't take PayPal for payment, that's why.

Tony's got his blog on.

Tony Comstock, a filmmaker who made a wonderful film Blowfish carries, now has a blog.

Bet you can't repress just one

My friend Jamais forwarded this incredible essay by Nina Hartley.

A lot of porn squicks me. I was extremely ambivalent about Extreme Associates' obscenity prosecution. But the mind is always cleared by one fundamental truth: When government is turned loose on an idea, they will not stop when you want them to.

Life Imitates Satire, part 2313

A photograph of what Islamic militants claim is a captive US soldier may have been posed with a toy figure, an army doll manufacturer has said.

for security reasons

For security reasons, you must download and install this piece of software into your back-office application. No, you don't get the source code. No, you don't get to see the protocol it uses with the host. No, we won't document what information it is sending. It works, trust us. No, we don't give you a warranty that it works.

Now, we just have to give the monkeys credit cards

A new study found that male monkeys will give up their juice rewards in order to ogle pictures of female monkey's bottoms. The way the experiment was set up, the act is akin to paying for the images, the researchers say.

So, what was that about porn being unnatural?

Why I hate being in the sex business

Conversation with commercial landlord:

Me: “Hi, I'm calling about the space at 174 Valencia?”

Scumball landlord: “Oh, yes! What were you thinking of putting in here?”

Me: “(describes Blowfish)”

Scumball landlord: (pause) “It's rented, but I have another space at (extremely scary and impossible-to-rent part of town)...”

Me: “Thanks for your time.” *click*