The advantages of making sex work legal

Hey Paul Studios / Foter / CC BY

In New Zealand sex work (prostitution) is legal, but failing to use a condom is illegal.I guess some people might find it unfair that the (male) clients was outed for this actions, despite being discharged without conviction. But boo hoo for his claim "...it's not about myself, it's about my family, and my girlfriend, and my girlfriend's family."  It's about them knowing the truth.  That fact that the truth distresses them is entire on him.

One of the huge talking points about whether sex work should be legal is that we should avoid negative consequences for the sex workers themselves.  But I think this case helps illustrate how legalization in fact takes the weight of responsibility off the sex worker and puts it all on the client where it belongs.  It is his choice to use the service, his legal requirement to use a condom whether requested to or not, whether he knows that is the law or not, and if he breaks that law it is a matter of public record.

So, yes.  I am Team Legalize Prostitution.

Sigh

Kea Serial Killer

Some one is shooting the Keas, a much loved New Zealand parrot. A total of six dead birds have been found, out of an estimated total population of less than 1000.

I hope the cops catch this bastard soon.  An apt punishment might involve being staked out naked in Kea territory.

Meanwhile in New Zealand

Alasdair Thompson, chief executive of the Employers and Manufacturers' Association (EMA), had an explanation for why women earn less then men.

Apparently it is because: "Women take more sick leave than men," due to their "monthly sick problems".

If you live on this planet and in this millennium you may have trouble understanding what this time-traveler from the Victorian era is referring to, specifically menstruation. He seems to think women routinely take days off when menstruating.

I imagine he is also concerned about the females' voluminous petticoats getting caught in the looms.

It seems that this asshat is going to resign.

My heart bleeds for him.

Perhaps I should take the day off.

That's Just Wrong #6: Californian Kiwis

Febreze

There is a new "exotic" scent for Febreze air freshner--New Zealand springs.

"Experiencing new culture, cuisine and scenery for the first time is a breath of fresh air that can change you forever. Tropical getaways and international travels are the inspiration for our exotic scents."

"New Zealand Springs: Inspired by New Zealand’s south island where springs feed glacier-carved streams and verdant vistas."

I am not sure what that is actually meant to smell like? Phosphate fertiliser and sheep droppings?  Fish and chips with a hint of Raid mosquito spray?

All I can say is that if they have any class Frebreze will be making a donation to the Christchurch earthquake fund.

Wild Food becomes Extreme Food

The WildFood festival use to be about rustic food that was at least occasionally eaten by people in the country.  So of course testicles were a pretty common feature because there are a lot of farm animals who routinely have them removed, and--well--waste not, want not.  Also many kind of wild animal and insect that most people would probably eat if they got stranded on an island out of reach of fried chicken.

But now it has officially crossed the line into just challenging people to eat the grossest thing that is not actually toxic, and charging them for the privilege.  This year including shot glasses full of horse semen.  This is not something any rugged bushman would turn to as a sensible source of food.  It is offered purely for the gross out factor and is gross on many levels. 

After all, if you eat lamb testicles you are symbolically taking on the role of a hardy farmer and wrangler who chops them off in the course of his calling.  When you drink horse semen you are essentially taking on the role of the rubber vagina used by rich racehorse owners to wank off a scatter-brained luxury horse.  That's kind of on the other end of the masculinity scale when you think about.

Is this story true?

[Aug 25, 2010] The story of a 72-year-old grandmother having a sexual affair (and surrogate baby) with her grandson has been all over the internet after appearing in New Zealand magazine New Idea. The question is: is any of it true. To put is bluntly, incest and weird surrogacy fits into some Kiwi stereotype of what might happen in crazy ol' America.  And this story fits neatly in the media categories or 'thing we love to hate' and 'thing we love to gossip about'.  It tidily combines: incest, age difference/older woman, old woman uses surrogate (or any other fertility service), 'he's with her?!' and many other memes of prurient interest and moral outrage. It is, to put is frankly, too outrageous to easily believe it is true. The fact that the story has now vanished from New Idea's website suggests that someone is not happy with mag's fact checkers right now.  Stay tuned for developments.

*****
NEW IDEA STORY

'I'm in love with my grandson and we're having a baby'

When 72-year-old Pearl met her grandson, little did she realise she'd soon be 'pregnant' with his child

Pearl Carter is positively glowing with joy. She has a handsome new boyfriend, is enjoying an active sex life after many years of celibacy and, amazingly, is preparing to become a mother again.

But the retired grandmother isn't carrying the baby herself. She and her young lover have spent a staggering $54,000 hiring a surrogate to help them with their dreams of having a child.

What makes Pearl's decision to become a mum again even more shocking is that her new boyfriend is her biological grandson, 26-year-old Phil Bailey.

Phil is the son of Pearl's daughter Lynette Bailey, and the pair is braving public horror and even prison by breaking one of the last taboos – incest.

However, the pair makes no apologies for their controversial plan to start their own family.

'I'm not interested in anyone else's opinion,' Pearl says. 'I am in love with Phil and he's in love with me. Soon I'll be holding my son or daughter in my arms and Phil will be the proud dad'.

Phil adds, 'I love Pearl with all my heart. I've always been attracted to older women and I think Pearl is gorgeous. Now I'm going to be a dad and I can't wait.

'Yes, we get laughed at and bullied when we go out and kiss in public but we don't care. You can't help who you fall for.'

More: http://nz.lifestyle.yahoo.com/new-idea/real-life/article/-/7124792/im-in-love-with-my-grandson-and-were-having-a-baby/

Baby Kiwi

I would like to welcome another ex-pat Kiwi to the US. Specifically the newly hatched kiwi that can now be seen via webcam at the Smithsonian Narional Zoological Park.

See also:

Newborn Kiwi