In the news . . .

First U.S. inmate executed through new intravenous method.

Too much sex in television ads recently?

Critics slam Saturday Night Live for being insensitive toward domestic violence after Tiger Woods skit.

Actress looks for lifesaver after $1.7 million tax lien.

Fearful of long prison sentence, 22-year-old pleads guilty to accidental child pornography download.

Google brings trademark infringement lawsuit against work-at-home spammers.

Woman seeks $5 million from Burger King for text message advertisements.

Amidst Homeland Security probe regarding White House party crash, reality tv husband Tareq Salahi resigns from government job.

Porn king Larry Flynt wins lawsuit against nephews over use of family name in title of porn company.

Mascot for New England Patriots arrested in sex sting.

Sports Illustrated has conversation with NBA Commissioner David Stern about legalizing gambling in professional basketball.

Countersuit filed against the band No Doubt in Band Hero avatar dispute.

Los Angeles, CA
December 12, 2009

Source: Associated Press
By John Rogers

The porn family feud that played out in federal court this week ended in a draw Friday when a jury ruled that Larry Flynt’s estranged nephews infringed on their famous uncle’s trademark when they launched their own smut business, but did not invade his privacy and were not liable for the substantial attorney fees both sides rang up.

The jury of four men and four women rendered its verdict after a four-day trial, during which they sat next to a big-screen TV that was used to repeatedly display blown-up photos of porn DVD boxes featuring naked women on the front and people engaged in all sorts of contortions on the back.

They listened as Flynt, who was paralyzed when he was shot by a white-supremacist sniper in 1978, sat in his gold-plated, velvet-lined wheelchair on Tuesday and Wednesday and testified that in the porn business his name stands for quality. His nephews, he said, were besmirching it by putting that name on “trashy” adult movies.

“The junk they publish hurts my reputation, which in turn hurts my revenue,” the gruff, gravelly voiced porn king testified.

As both sides debated what constitutes an elegant sex film as opposed to a trashy one, jurors sat stone-faced, observing posters for films with titles like “Hot Showers” and “Sex at Your Service.”

After about three hours of deliberations Friday, they concluded that Flynt’s nephews, Jimmy Flynt Jr. and his brother, Dustin Flynt, did indeed infringe on their uncle’s trademark when they produced films with just the word “FLYNT” in large capital letters above the titles.

At the same time, the jury rejected Flynt’s contention that his nephews invaded his privacy, a ruling their attorney, Dan DeCarlo, said holds Flynt responsible for all attorney fees.

Overall, both sides claimed victory.

Flynt’s attorney, Mark Hoffman, said all his client wanted was to maintain his good name in the porn community, adding that he never asked the jury for monetary damages.

“This has been very hard on Mr. Flynt,” he said. “He never wanted to go this far. All he wanted to do was the right thing.”

Meanwhile, Jimmy Flynt Jr. said he has already launched a new Web site that he believes meets the requirements of the jury’s ruling. Called flyntnation.com, it contains both his and his brother’s first names, as well as the disclaimer, “Larry Flynt is not affiliated with and does not endorse this.”

“No one wins in this thing,” said Jimmy Jr., who bears a striking resemblance to his square-jawed uncle. “It’s sad that the family is in this dispute, but we felt strongly that we should be allowed to use our name in our business.”

The nephews launched their own company after their uncle fired them from executive positions at Larry Flynt Publications in November 2007. Jimmy Jr., 37, had worked there for 17 years, starting in the mailroom. His 34-year-old brother had been there 10 years.

“I felt they were doing a horrible job,” their 67-year-old uncle testified.

Larry Flynt, who started in the porn business more than 40 years ago, owns Hustler magazine and other publications, operates Internet sites and retail stores, produces films, owns pricey real estate and even markets a line of clothing.

Although his privately held company is said to be worth tens of millions of dollars, he fired his nephews’ father, Jimmy Flynt Sr., last year, saying he needed to save money to sue Jimmy Sr.’s sons.

“I told him that this lawsuit was going to be expensive to finance it, and the only way I could was to not have him working for the company,” Flynt testified during the trial.

* All about Facebook’s new privacy policy.

* Another headline that speaks for itself: “Flynt vs. Flynt: Larry sues nephews for producing ‘inferior’ porn with too much ‘boob element.’”

* Impeach Obama! Who knows why.

* Updates on tomorrow’s scheduled marriage equality vote from Blue Jersey and Pam’s House Blend. Sounds as though the Senate vote may be tabled rather than be allowed to fail. (UPDATE: The New York Times confirms this is what’s happening.)

* Glenn Beck has singlehandedly solved the health care crisis: just abolish Medicare. Why can’t the plan to win in Afghanistan be this simple?

* Bad Democrat Ben Nelson, at least, has “no serious objections” to the latest health care compromise.But progressive groups (and progressive House members) are pretty angry. Here’s more.

* Democrats are finally clueing into the fact that health care reform that doesn’t kick in until 2013 may cause them some political problems in 2010 and 2012. How fast could this Medicare buy-in be activated?

* I think every single political blog I read linked to Rachel Maddow’s interview with Coming Out Straight author Richard Cohen last night. Glenn Greenwald has the most detailed take, focusing on why Maddow is so much better than every other cable host.

* Bruce won’t play Christie’s inauguration; better call the B Street Band.

* Lots of interest today in the climate change denialism industry, with commentary from Al Gore, Kevin Drum, Chris Mooney, Jeff Masters, Think Progress, and George Monbiot, among others.

* Great clip from Jon Stewart on how Fox News calculatedly talks down to its viewers.

* Mysterious Light Spiral Appears Over Norway. Leave it to Bad Astronomy to ruin all the fun.

Tiger Woods

And Why It Really Matters…..

Written by  Marty Klein, Ph.D.

HOW THE SEXUAL ADDICTION MOVEMENT AFFECTS PROFESSIONALS

People are now self-diagnosing as “sex addicts.”

They’re also diagnosing their partners. Non-sexologist professionals such as ministers and doctors are diagnosing some of their clientele as sex addicts, too. As a result of these trends, many people who should be seeing therapists or sexologists are not. And many who don’t need “treatment” are getting it.

The sexual addiction movement is aggressively training non-sexologists, such as marriage counselors, in the treatment of sexual problems.

Many professionals are now taking these programs instead of those offered by sexologists. Also, some professionals now feel incompetent to treat certain systemic problems without this sexual addiction “training.” It is important to note that the content of this sexual addiction training is sexologically inadequate: there is little or no discussion of systems, physiology, diagnoses, cultural aspects, etc.

The concept of sexual addiction affects the sexual climate of the society in which we work–negatively.

This negativity is reflected in anti-sex education legislation, anti-pornography ordinances, homophobic industry regulations, etc.

Sex addicts now have cachet as sex experts.

Mass murderer Ted Bundy, widely quoted as an expert on the effects of pornography, is only one example. Right-wing crusaders now routinely quote “sex addicts” to justify repressive beliefs and public policy suggestions.

DEFINING SEXUAL ADDICTION

In the literature, the sex addict is typically described as:

Someone who frequently does or fantasizes sexual things s/he doesn’t like; Someone whose sexual behavior has become unstoppable despite serious consequences (including, according to Dr. Patrick Carnes, unwanted pregnancy) Someone whose sexual behavior and thoughts have become vastly more important than their relationships, family, work, finances, and health; Someone whose sexual behavior doesn’t reflect her/his highest self, the grandest part of her/his humanness;

According to the National Association of Sexual Addiction Problems, “6% or 1 out of 17 Americans are sexual addicts.” That’s about 14 million people.

From this literature and from meetings of groups like Sexaholics Anonymous (SA), the beliefs of people committed to the sexual addiction model appear to include:

Sex is most healthy in committed, monogamous, loving, heterosexual relationships The “goal” of sex should always be intimacy and the expression of our highest self; There are limits to healthy sexual expression, which are obvious (e.g., masturbation more than once a day) Choosing to use sex to feel better about yourself or to escape from problems is unhealthy.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE CONCEPT

It sees powerlessness as a virtue.

Step 1 of the traditional “12 steps” of all AA-type groups is “we admitted we were powerless over X (alcohol, our sexual impulses, etc.)…”

Controlling our sexuality can be painful, not because we lack self-control or will power, but because sexual energy is powerful and demands expression. The primitive, infantile forces behind those demands often make sexuality feel like a matter of life and death–which, in the unconscious, it is.

“Sex addicts” say they are “out of control,” but this is just a metaphor–i.e., they feel out of control; controlling their impulses is very painful. We’ve all had that experience, with sex and with other things. Virtually everyone has the ability to choose how to control and express their sexual impulses (we’ll discuss the small group who can’t later). The concept of sexual addiction colludes with peoples’ desire to shirk responsibility for their sexuality. But powerlessness is far too high a price to pay.

It prevents helpful analysis by patients and therapists.

The concept of sexual addiction prevents any examination of the personality dynamics underlying sexual behavior. It prevents the assessment and treatment of sexual or personality problems, because identifying and dealing with the “addiction” is the goal.

By encouraging people to “admit” that they are powerless, the concept of sexual addiction prevents people from examine how they come to feel powerless–and what they can do about that feeling. This careful examination, ultimately, is the source of personality growth and behavior change. The expression “That’s my addiction talking” is creeping into the popular vocabulary. This translates into “don’t confront or puncture my defenses.”

It trivializes sexuality.

The concept of sexual addiction ignores the childhood passions at the source of sexual guilt. Aggression, lust for power, and greedy demands to be pleasured are all part of normal sexuality, which every adult needs to broker in some complex fashion.

People learn to feel guilty about their sexual impulses as infants. “Sex addicts” are told they have nothing to feel guilty about, that they can learn to feel better one day at a time. But people know all the “good” reasons they have for feeling sexual guilt. By denying the dark side of normal, healthy sexuality that most people know they have, the concept of sexual addiction increases guilt.

Self-identified “sex addicts” want us to remove the darkness from their sexuality, leaving only the wholesome, non-threatening part–which would, of course, also leave them as non-adults. Rather than collude with this understandable desire, competent therapists are willing to confront this darkness. Instead of snatching it away from patients, we can help them approach, understand, and ultimately feel less afraid of it.

Another way to describe this is that:

It lets people split–i.e., externalize their “bad” sexuality.

Once a person describes her/himself as a “sex addict,” s/he can say, “I don’t want that sexual feeling or behavior over there; the disease wants it.” Good therapists know how to recognize splitting, how it blocks adult functioning, and how to move patients away from it.

It makes a disease out of what is often within reasonable limits of sexual behavior.

High levels of masturbating and any patronage of prostitutes, for example, are typically condemned as “abnormal” and reflecting a “disease,” according to SA-type groups. Which experts get to make judgments about acceptable sexual behavior? Exactly where do their criteria come from?

It doesn’t teach sexual decision-making skills or how to evaluate sexual situations.

Rather, the concept uses a “just say no” approach. As experience with family planning shows, “just say no” helps people abstain from self-destructive sex about as well as “have a nice day” helps people deal with depression.

SA-type groups say that ultimately, sexual abstinence is more like abstinence from compulsive eating–that is moderation–than it is like abstinence from compulsive drinking–that is, zero participation. On what theoretical basis has this critical judgment been made? Simple expediency.

Mr. and Mrs. Tiger Woods

Where is the healthy model of sexuality?

The sexual addiction model of human sexuality is moralistic, arbitrary, misinformed, and narrow. Excluded from this model are using sex to feel good; having “bad” fantasies; and enjoying sex without being in love. Where is the theoretical justification for this moralistic position?

We’ve seen this before: the concept of sin as sickness. It has led to sincere attempts to “cure” homosexuality, nymphomania, and masturbation–by the world’s leading social scientists, within our own lifetime. It is outrageous to treat sexual problems without a model of healthy sexuality that relates to most people’s experience. The sexual addiction concept shows a dramatic ignorance of the range of typical human sexuality.

At the end of competent sex therapy or psychotherapy treatment, the patient is a grown-up, able to make conscious sexual choices. Sex addiction treatment offers a patient the chance to be a recovering sex addict. Which would you rather be?

PROFESSIONAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE CONCEPT

It reduces the credibility of sexologists.

Prospective patients are now asking therapists a new set of questions: “Are you in recovery yourself?” “Have you treated sex addicts before?” What if a therapist is emotionally/sexually healthy and therefore not “in recovery?” Is s/he then disqualified as a professional?

The public, I’m afraid, is now getting a picture of us as being ivory tower types out of the touch with the real–i.e., destructive– sexuality out on the street. They’re feeling, “You want to waste time discussing systems, regression, defenses, and meanwhile there are kids buying Playboy out there!”

It replaces professional sexologists as relevant sex experts.

There are two groups of people behind this:

a) Addictionologists, often in recovery themselves (i.e., they have unresolved sexual and impulse control issues). They typically have little or not training in sexuality; and

b) 12-steppers themselves, lay people who love being in recovery. Their missionary zeal has nothing to do with science or clinical expertise. They freely generalize their own experience with sexual problems and “recovery” to all people and to human sexuality.

Both groups of people are now being quoted–and are actively portraying themselves–as sex experts.

By offering training from people with little or no sexological background, the concept suggests that all sex therapists offer is just another “theory” about sexual functioning. Just as creationists now want (and frequently get) “equal time” when scientists teach or discuss evolution, addictionologists now want–and are beginning to get–”equal time” regarding sexual functioning.

Graduates of such training programs believe that they have learned something about sexuality, when they haven’t. They have learned something about addiction. And they are taught that they are competent to treat addiction in any form, whether its vehicle is alcohol, food, gambling, love, or sex.

Most addictionologists admit they lack skills in differential diagnosis. They and their 12-step programs let anyone define him/herself as a “sex addict”. How many personality disorders, how much depression, how many adjustment reactions are being treated as “sex addiction?”

POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE CONCEPT

Modern Day Chastity Belt 2009

It strengthens society’s anti-sex forces.

“Sexual addiction” is the Right’s newest justification for eliminating sex education, adult bookstores, and birth control clinics. They are using the same arguments to eliminate books like The Color Purple from school libraries, even in supposedly liberal California. Businessman Richard Enrico, whose group Citizens Against Pornography takes credit for eliminating the sale of Playboy magazine from all 1,800 7-11 stores, did so, he says, “because smut causes sex addiction.” And he was able to convince one of America’s largest corporations of this complete fiction. We should not be colluding with this destructive force.

It emphasizes negative aspects of sex.

Sex addiction treatment is essentially creating a special interest group of people who feel victimized by their own sexuality. Not others’ sexuality, like rape victims–their own sexuality. This lobby/interest group is growing as increasing numbers of people are recruited into identifying themselves as sex addicts. With the agenda of protecting people from their own sexuality, they are a dangerous group, easily exploited by the Right and other sex-negative points of view.

It frightens people about the role of sexuality in social problems.

Increasingly, “sex addicts” and trainers are talking in public about how sexual impulses took over their lives and made them do things like steal money, take drugs, and see prostitutes. This frightens people about their ability to control their own sexuality–as if they’re vulnerable to being taken over. * It supports public ignorance about sexuality.

“Sex addicts” and trainers spread stories about how childhood masturbating to Playboy leads to porn addiction, and about how prostitutes become so alluring that people destroy their marriages. The public, of course, takes the additional step that this could happen to anyone–even though there is no data to support this idea.

The movement continues to spread dangerous lies about sex, even though, for example, the ultraconservative Meese Commission was unable to find any evidence that pornography leads to child molestation, and even though no medical society in the world has ever proven that masturbate of any kind is harmful.

It focusses on the “dignified” “purpose” of sex.

These words always seem to mean a rigid sex role system, with sex needing love to give it meaning. Sweating and moaning never seem dignified to people concerned with the dignity of sex. Ultimately, the “purpose of sex” can only be a political, rather than a scientific, concept.

It obscures the role of society in distorting our sexuality.

Sexologists understand that our moralistic American society constricts healthy sexual expression. We all know the sexual and intimacy problems this creates; in fact, we are now beginning to understand how such distortion even helps create sex offenders. But the sexual addiction movement only sees society as encouraging “promiscuity,” instead of discouraging pleasure and healthy sexuality. This simplistic analysis cannot see how the media and other institutions make gilt-free sex almost impossible.

The sexual addiction concept attempts to heal society’s sexual pain while keeping its economic, political, and social foundations intact. This is not only naive and ineffective, it is dangerous.

Frenzied sexual marathons: Vivien Leigh's stamina and appetite soon became burdensome for her husband Laurence Olivier

(A strong sex drive does not make you an addict, the key is to pick someone that has a similar sex drive to you)!

WHY IS THE SEXUAL ADDICTION CONCEPT SO POPULAR?

It distances personal responsibility for sexual choices.

As Loyola University’s Dr. Domeena Renshaw says, “my illness makes me have affairs” is a very popular concept. The concept seems to allow sexual expression without the punishment our infantile side fears. This is a great childhood fantasy. But the price is too high.

It provides fellowship.

SA-type meetings provide structure and relaxed human contact for people who have trouble finding these in other ways. The program also allows alcoholics in AA to work the steps again. This is one of the single biggest sources of self-described “sex addicts.” In fact, Patrick Carnes claims that 83% of all sex addicts have some other kind of addiction.

It provides pseudoscientific support for the intuitive belief that sex is dangerous.

In doing so it legitimizes sex-negative attitudes and supports sexual guilt.

It lets people self-diagnose.

This is very American, very democratic. People like to feel they are taking charge of their lives, and self-diagnosing gives them the illusion that they are.

It encourage people to split.

When people are troubled by their sexuality, it is comforting to imagine the problem “out there” rather than “in here.” A striking example is Jimmy Swaggart, who railed against immorality out in the world, while behaving in the very ways he was condemning.

It also encourages a kind of splitting among non-”sex addicts.” In answering the defensive question “how can people be sexual like that?” It makes people who behave in certain ways essentially different from us “normal” folk. Basically, people use the concept of sexual addiction as a projection of their fear about their own sexuality. Its very existence is sort of an exorcism of sexuality on a societal level.

It helps people get distance from their sexual shame.

Most of us have deep shame about our sexuality–either our overt behavior, or the more primitive urges and images left over from childhood that we’ve never accepted. This profound sense of shame is what people would really like to get rid of; the behavioral symptoms they’re supposedly addicted to are just a symbol of that shame.

SA-type groups reframe this same into a positive thing. It is a badge for membership; it lets “addicts” know they’re heading toward a solution; it affirms that a sex-crazed society is victimizing them; and it suggests they’re being too hard on themselves. Good therapy does the opposite: it helps people feel their shame, relate it to an even deeper pain, and temporarily feel worse–before helping them resolve it.

WHY DO SO MANY PEOPLE CLAIM TO GET RELIEF FROM SEXUAL ADDICTION PROGRAMS?

First, we should keep in mind that simply because people claim that something gives them emotional relief doesn’t mean it works in the way they claim. Astrology apparently helped reduce Nancy Reagan’s anxiety about husband Ron’s career, but that doesn’t mean it actually helped either of them make better decisions.

The recovery process can be emotionally reassuring for many people.

It offers structure, goals, fellowship, and an accepting social environment. In fact, since most of the talk at SA-type groups is about sex and relationships, it’s a relatively easy place to meet people for dating. And that does go on.

Conversation at SA-type meetings is exclusively about material that each individual is already focussing on. Thus, all conversation feels like it’s about the individual “addict,” and so participants can feel connected with others without having to abandon their own narcissistic focus. This feels intimate, and gives the illusion that an individual is making progress. And, of course, virtually everyone gets to hear stories of people who are worse off than they are, and so they feel better.

People enjoy feeling like they’re heading somewhere.

While “addicts” learn to enjoy the process of recovery, they also learn they’re never going to fully get there. So they set their sights lower–and do accomplish never being cured.

Because the sexual addiction movement is not interested in personality change, it can offer symptom relief without any ethical conflicts. In many cases people do get that relief–although it’s at the expense of the rest of their character structure. Finally, as “addicts” continue learning how to distance themselves from their “bad” sexuality, they feel an increasing sense of direction and relief.

Addicts transfer some of their compulsivity to the SA-type group meeting itself.

For many “sex addicts,” meetings (sometimes many times per week) are the most important part of the week. In a predictable setting and way, with comforting regularity, they get to listen to and talk about sexual feelings and behavior they dislike.

This feeling is perfectly conveyed by a “sex addict” quoted in a recent Contemporary Sexuality. He notes that, “Every Thursday night for the past year and a half I have repeated that statement [about his so-called addiction] to my 12-step support group.” By itself this is a trivial point; in the context of a program supposed to heal compulsive behavior, it is troubling.

WHAT ABOUT SEXUAL COMPULSIVITY?

Most self-described sex addicts aren’t out of control; they are relatively “normal” neurotics for whom being in control is painful. In fact, as the National Association of Sexual Addiction Problems says, “most addicts do not break the law, nor do they satisfy their need by forcing themselves upon others.”

Those who are really sexually compulsive are typically psychotic, sociopathic, character-disordered, etc. Some of these people have impaired reality testing. Others have absolutely no concern about the consequences of their behavior. Dr. Renshaw states that “undifferentiated sexual urgency is a symptom of manic-depression.” These people don’t need help laying off one day at a time. They need deep therapy, medication, structured behavioral interventions, or other intensive modalities. The University of Minnesota’s Dr. Eli Coleman, for example, reports treatment success with lithium, comparable to the clinical results lithium produces with other compulsives. It is absolutely indefensible to suggest that the same mechanism is operating in the rapist and in the guy who masturbates “too often.” The concept of sexual addiction does nothing to diagnose serious problems, assess danger, discuss beliefs about sex, take a history, or change personality. There are no treatment statistics on true obsessive- compulsives using the sexual addiction model. We must also, and this is much harder, continue to resist and interpret society’s demand for simple answers and easy solutions about true sex offenders.

Sexual energy scares people; distorted expressions of that energy terrify people. We need to continually educate policy-makers and the public as to why the treatment of sex offenders is so complex and difficult, and why quick-fix solutions are worse than partial solutions. We must find a way to say “I don’t know” or “We’re still working on it” without apologizing. Cancer researchers, for example, have done a good job of making partial answers–like early detection and quitting smoking–acceptable.

SUMMARY

The concept of “sex addiction” really rests on the assumption that sex is dangerous. There’s the sense that we frail humans are vulnerable to the Devil’s temptations of pornography, masturbation, and extramarital affairs, and that if we yield, we become “addicted.” Without question, being a sexual person is complex, and we are vulnerable–to our sex-negative heritage, shame about our bodies, and conflict about the exciting sexual feelings we can’t express without risking rejection. Sexuality per se, however, is not dangerous–no matter how angry or frightened people are.

Professional sexologists should reject any model suggesting that people must spend their lives 1) in fear of sexuality’s destructive power; 2) being powerless about sexuality; 3) lacking the tools to relax and let sex take over when it’s appropriate.

Addictionologists have cynically misled the public into thinking that “sexual addiction” is a concept respected and used by sex therapists and educators. Even a brief look at our literature, conferences, and popular writing shows how rarely this is true. But addictionologists don’t care about sexual truth or expertise–only about addiction. The sexual addiction movement is not harmless. These people are missionaries who want to put everyone in the missionary position.

In these terrible anti-sex times, one of our most important jobs is to reaffirm that sexuality–though complicated–is precious, not dangerous. Now more than ever, our job is to help people just say yes.

Los Angeles, CA
December 8, 2009

Source: Los Angeles Times
By Victoria Kim

Testifying under oath in the staid halls of U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles, Hustler publisher Larry Flynt opined on where the next generation was taking the adult entertainment industry.

“I think there’s a thin line. As a society we’ve come to accept what I like to refer to as ‘vanilla sex,’ ” he said. “But if you get too trashy, people get uncomfortable.”

Flynt took the stand Tuesday in the first day of his federal trademark infringement trial against his nephews, Jimmy Jr. and Dustin, who earlier this year launched their own line of adult films under the name “Flynt.” Calling their films “inferior products” and “knock-off goods,” the porn mogul promptly sued, accusing them of trying to ride on the coattails of his fame and muddying the quality his customers have come to expect from his products.

The younger Flynts contend that they have a right to do business under their own name and that their uncle is just trying to stomp out competition. They say they’ve built up their own name in the industry over the years by working for the Hustler empire.

The trial, expected to last about a week, promises to be filled with many images of ample-chested women and serious argument over the inner workings of the pornography industry.

Daniel DeCarlo, an attorney for Flynt’s nephews, told the four-man, four-woman federal jury that consumers of porn are “careful and discerning” when it comes to choosing products. Because they are well-versed with the brands that are out there, and carefully study the box before making a purchase, there is little chance that the nephews’ line will be confused with Larry Flynt’s films, he said in his opening statement.

Larry Flynt’s attorney, on the other hand, said that a survey by his expert found that consumers presented with images of the nephews’ films — with the Flynt name displayed across the top in silver block letters — overwhelmingly associated the product with Larry Flynt. The nephews’ effort to take advantage of their uncle’s fame was clear in one of their promotional fliers, which advertised, “You know the name, you know the game,” attorney Mark Hoffman argued.

The 67-year-old Flynt, wearing a green tie and seated in his gold-plated, velvet-lined wheelchair, testified that the feud began after he fired his nephews in late 2007 for being unproductive after keeping them under his wing for more than 10 years.

“This was a very painful thing for me to do. I didn’t wish them bad at all,” he said.

He testified that he found out through an industry publication that his nephews were using the severance money he paid them — $100,000 each — to launch a competitive line under their family name. He said their films — which include titles such as “Positive Exposure” and “Sex at Your Service” — did not live up to his standards.

DeCarlo, the nephews’ attorney, took issue with Flynt’s assessment of the films as “trashy.” He proceeded to show the jury an enlarged image of one of Larry Flynt’s films, “Mason’s Sluts.”

“Is this less trashy or more trashy than my client’s product?” DeCarlo asked.

“Your clients are focusing on the boob element, so to speak,” Larry Flynt replied. “I just think that’s sort of passé, and guys are moving past that. That’s only my opinion.”

Dustin Flynt, said it was difficult for him to go up against his uncle in court because he had a close relationship with him, having worked as his personal assistant for many years. But his films, he said, were anything but trashy.

“We’re bringing elegance back to erotica,” he said.

For more information of the Flynt brothers: http://flyntnation.com

Should you find yourself needing disturbing holiday stocking stuffers or a last minute gift for a baby shower (in a meth lab) Hustler makes baby clothes.  Let’s just close our eyes and let that sink in…

 Hustler. Makes. Baby clothes.  Oh God.

The shit has hit the fan.

As the saying goes, “And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was.. Larry Flynt?”

Wisconsin comedy fans are Andi Smith’s kind of people.

“Dry, sarcastic, and generally a bit tipsy,” the Janesville native quips.

Harnessing an untamed originality since she ditched a “soul-sucking” gig as a website designer, Andi unleashes scathing wit and dry-edged humor on unassuming crowds who don’t fully realize how funny girls can be too.  The two-time “Last Comic Standing” player and young Comedy Central talent leaves fans in hysterics, albeit feeling a little dirty, as she mouths off on unusual targets.

Like (wheelchair-ridden) porn king Larry Flynt, foster kids and cosmetically enhanced busts.

When Andi ravages the stage, nothing’s off limits and everything’s up for jabs — including Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize, do-good cheerleader types and her own mom. Like a backstage conversation that should call for whispering, Andi’s brutally honest, always entertaining set keeps audiences salivating for more.  She brings the goods to the Skyline Comedy Cafe this Thanksgiving week — Nov. 25 and 27-28.

Let’s get to know her, shall we?

Any embarrassing or kicka$% nicknames you grew up with?

I think my favorite was “King Size Kerri Silla.”  She was an albino and I was fatter.

Who would you wanna go up against in a stand-up comedy battle, and why?

Kerri Silla.  She isn’t that funny.

Best part about being a comedian?

Not having to get up early. That’s pretty much the best part.

Who’s your biggest fan?

I’m not sure, although I did get a fan letter recently from a group of inmates who saw a “Last Comic Standing” rerun.  Thanks Ray Ray.

Guiltiest pleasure you’d really rather not admit, but will anyway for Skyline fans?

I cried at the end of The Nanny Diaries.

All right, moving on… You’re brilliant on stage, first off. The delivery, material. Really. Where did you learn the stand-up comedy ropes?

Every comedian I’ve ever worked with taught me something.  I think delivery and material though are something that has to come from you.  I blame a lot of it on my mother.

Do your folks, family, friends have fond memories of you being “a comedian” when you were a kid? And…did your jokes ever get you in trouble?

I wasn’t the class clown or a funny kid or anything. I had one friend growing up and we laughed a lot. I think I owe a lot of my humor to Wisconsin.  I maintain that Wisconsin people are some of the funniest people in the world. Dry, sarcastic, and generally a bit tipsy.

You record a lot of your performances for DVD memorabilia and what not…It’s gotta be weird going back and watching yourself perform.

I can’t watch myself.  I have heard all the jokes and therefore don’t think it’s funny.

Let’s talk about crowds, since they’re sort of essential to a comedian’s career.  Give us your memory of the best, and worst, you remember since starting.

The best crowds are the ones who laugh… A lot. The worst one (there are some contenders for this title) might have been a bar in Kansas where 3 people were arrested in the back of the room.

You’re coming to Appleton this week, where we’re obviously known for our cheese, drinking and entertainment junkies. What goes through your mind when you’re pondering a trip to the Skyline?

Cheese, drinking, and good thrift stores.  I grew up in Janesville, WI, so performing in Wisconsin is my favorite.  They’re the only ones who get references about Alpine Valley, Shakey’s Pizza Buffet, and corn mazes.

What kinds of things are irking you these days? Anything we’ll hear about in your set?

Sarah Palin. I hope she gets pelvic inflammatory disease.

When you get up on stage, any preconceived notions people have about Andi Smith being just this cute, nice ‘girl next door’ type go out the window…Do you still feel like you have something to prove when you get up there, being a woman? Like, “hey, girls are funny too.”

I think there is still a lot of people who think women aren’t funny.  I think that there are a handful of really funny female comics and then, like any other profession, the rest of them are just sluts with notebooks.

So, you’re on stage doing your thing. Are you solely focused in the moment, or what kind of stuff is running through your head up there?

I have fun. Or at least I try.  I love being on stage. I’m usually thinking “I hope I don’t suck.”

What’s your take on having family or friends watch you perform?

I think it’s like a lot of times you’re out having fun… You hope your parents don’t show up.  I like when friends and relatives come out to the shows though. It makes it more fun.

You’re one of three brilliant minds behind RooftopComedy.com, which the Skyline partnered with a while back. Like all great ideas, we’re curious where that one came from…

It’s a long story but I’ve always thought that Open Mic Nights are the most interesting part of comedy.  The idea was originally to put open mic nights online–the good sets, the bad sets, they’re all funny. The idea has changed a lot but the goal is still the same… Give new comedians a place to be seen.

Sweet. Well, we’re obviously going to refer fans to your website–snowflakehead.com. But first, why ’snowflakehead’? Nickname?

It was part of a joke I had about being pale (smiles).  Andi Smith was already taken.

Catch Andi Smith live this week only at the Skyline Comedy Cafe (Nov. 25 & 27-28).  Stop back every week to catch up with the biggest, most current names in the live comedy game.

Andi Smith Online

Comedy Central

MySpace

VIDEO CLIPS

RESERVATIONS:  (920) 734-JOKE (5653)   |   Skyline Comedy Official

San Francisco, CA
November 21, 2009

The annual SFFF Local 798 Toy Drive and Fundraiser is kicking off tonight across eleven of the city’s gentlemen’s clubs.  The official party will be at the Gold Club at 650 Howard Street from 7PM-9PM featuring complimentary hors d’oeuvres and a hosted bar.  In addition, bring an unwrapped gift or donation to any of the following clubs for free admission:  Larry Flynt’s Hustler Club, Centerfolds, Garden of Eden, Condor Club, Roaring 20’s, Little Darlings, New Century Theater, Market Street Cinema, Hungry I, Broadway Showgirls, and the Gold Club.

A few links/recommendations:

Tesco Vee of the Meatmen analyzes the blonde from ABBA and her solo career here. This article was originally published in Forced Exposure.

I saw the Meatmen twice this summer on their tour with Chapstik. They wrecked the place both times, and Tesco was hilarious as always. On the final night of the tour in Austin, Tx., they played “Centurions of Rome” with Leighton of Chapstik on second guitar as the whole band donned Ben Hur headgear.

The new album “Meatmen Cover the Earth” features Tesco and his new band storming through Blue Oyster Cult’s WWII Nazi warplane anthem “ME-262″, G.G. Allin’s “Highest Power”, FEAR’s “I Love Livin’ in the City” two Black Randy songs and many more. It’s worth it just for the tour through Tesco’s musical tastes, with his rendition of the Temptations’ “Psychedelic Shack” and even a Saxon tune among the standout cuts. And yes, ABBA is represented. Plus, you get the return of Shecky Shpilkis in “Sex Mart 2010″.

All the essential Meat CDs are now back in print, including the metallicized War of the Superbikes and Rock N Roll Juggernaut, along with the Tesco Vee’s Hate Police album and Vee’s noise project, Blight. I’m excited about his forthcoming Touch & Go book with the complete run of the essential punk ‘zine; I just ordered the Meatmen DVD (see cover above), which I’ve heard is amazing.

Chapstik proved a worthy opener for the Meatmen with a roaring, balls-to-the-wall three-guitar attack. Barnburner and the EP Fire! Die in It are both excellent. “Cream of Everything”, “Egregious Philbin”, “Twat’s it To Ya”, and “Mustache” are among my fave tracks, and each album ends with a choice Sabbath-style dirge metal epic.

I mentioned the Meatmen in my recent contribution to The Official Heavy Metal Book of Lists – specifically, Tesco’s lyrical reference to Captain Beyond in the War of the Superbikes classic “Pillar of Sodom”: “Drugged-out visions of the dead in crypts/That dust be bringin’ on a Mesmerization Eclipse.”

When I saw the mighty Meatmen in L.A., I asked Vee about Captain Beyond. Smiling, he enthusiastically pointed out that he swiped a riff from that ’70s rock band in the Tesco Vee’s Hate Police song “BGC” (“Big Giant C*ck”).

Allan MacDonell’s PRISONER OF X: 20 Years in the Hole at Hustler Magazine is the best book yet written about the insanity of working in the X-rated entertainment business. MacDonell’s prose is bulletproof, and his story is incredible. He spares no one, including himself, in this amazing account of his career with Larry Flynt’s notorious publication. His recollections of the early L.A. punk scene here are great and deserve a book of their own. Mandatory purchase.

New Pulp Press has added three new titles to its upcoming slate, including the reissue of a vintage sleaze novel by the late Gil Brewer. Check them out here.

Look for some big news on EVIL DEAD in the coming weeks. I’m setting up the U.S. theatrical tour for Sam Raimi’s classic unrated splatterfest anounced here and anticipation is high. This is going to be a major event in the horror world!

I’ve also received favorable early reactions to my noir novel-in-progress, THE CREEPS, which I hope to see published in the coming year.

- David Szulkin

now playing: Serpent Throne, “Ride Satan Ride”

Dexxxter é a nova versão pornográfica para um hit da televisão, no caso a série Dexter, sobre o assassino em série de assassinos em série.

Na versão pornográfica, Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) ganha uma versão feminina. Na “história”, Dexxxter Whoregan (Nikki Rhodes) é uma investigadora de Miami (EUA) que sempre acaba envolvida em tramas violentas e sexy. As estrelas do cinema adulto Lexi Belle, McKenzie Sweets, Kya Tropic e Lynx participam do filme.

As paródias são consideradas um subgênero de sucesso da indústria pornográfica. Recentemente, a produtora New Sensations lnaçou versões pornográficas de ‘30 Rock’, ‘Friends’, ‘Seinfeld’, ‘Scrubs’ e ‘The Office’.

A Hustler aproveitou a onda e prepara as sequências de suas versões picantes para séries clássicas. Entre os títulos estão ‘Star Trek’, ‘I Love Lucy’, ‘The Cosby Show’, ‘A Família Sol-Lá-Si-Dó’ e ‘Happy Days’.

Além disso, a produtora de Larry Flynt produzirá um pornô baseado no reality show ‘Hell’s Kitchen’. Só mesmo uma mente muito criativa para pensar em algo assim.

Notícia reproduzida do blog Poltrona.TV.

We have double passes available to anyone who emails us here at (soulofsydney@gmail.com) asking for them

Event Details:  Friday 16 October 11:30pm @ Oxford Art Factory (38 Oxford St Sydney)

Feat: Pase Rock (Spank Rock),+ Dangerous Dan, Tha Fizz, Mirror Mirror,Mik Menace,Cassettezz

Tickets: $16 @  Moshtix Info : E-mail : anita@onthefly.com.au Phone: (02) 9211-1610

Facebook: Event Link

PASE ROCK – Lindsay Lohan’s Revenge

DJ Am & Pase Rock – Digital  Lovee – LIVE @ LAX 2008

Spank Rock, Pase Rock ft. Amanda Blank (Live at McCarren Pool Brooklyn 2006)

Event Info + Bio

Dim Mak Party ft. Pase Rock (Spank Rock/NYC), Tickets $16 @ moshtix.com

More Links + Media

Pase Rock Interview @ Onthefly.com.au

Links:

Info @ Onthefly.com.au

Pase Rock @ Myspace

Facebook: Event Link

Tickets: $16 @  Moshtix

Facebook Event Link

Five, the Mayor, and I bring you the cinematic representations of our minds with the film collaborative, Dead Serials. Upcoming videos with Eleven and the Falcons soon.

San Francisco, CA
October 1, 2009

Porn legend Ron Jeremy will be in San Francisco tonight hosting Larry Flynt’s 7 year anniversary party at the Hustler Club .  If you RSVP’d you are treated to an open bar from 7PM-9PM. The Hustler Club is located in the North Beach area of Broadway Street and Kearny.  The address is 1031 Kearny and the party will roll until the doors close – typically 2 or 4am.  Bring your $20’s and singles as the girls will be sure to take them after you load up on the free booze.

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“If the human body’s obscene, complain to the manufacturer, not to me.” – Larry Flynt