The California State University at Northridge, CSUN, is to be investigated following claims that it used public money to fund a conference on Pornography.
California's Joint Legislative Audit Committee voted 11-0 to order the investigation requested by Republican Senator Ray Haynes of Riverside. He alleges that “...State tax dollars were used to promote child pornography and a state university sponsored a pornography trade show. This conference wasn't about First Amendment issues. They showed how to make, shoot and write porn films.”
The World Pornography Conference was held in August 1998 at the Universal City Sheraton. It included discussions of such topics as curbing sexually transmitted diseases, the reformation of prostitution laws and cross-dressing.
John Chandler, a spokesman for CSUN, John Chandler, said that they will cooperate fully with the audit. He said the university does not fund the center but “strongly believes the 1998 conference was a legitimate academic endeavor.”.
Participants included professors, researchers, First Amendment lawyers and adult film actors. Unfortunately, an International Hookers' Masquerade Ball was held in conjunction with the conference, presumably attended by the same esteemed professors, researchers and lawyers, purely in the interests of science. Senator Haynes did not attend; in truth, he was probably not invited, which may have been a contributory factor in his raising the issue!
For those who have an objective interest, the annual conference is advertised on the web, the address of which the Carny is witholding for selfish reasons. There is a 'call for papers' issued, and presumably a 'call for pictures' along with “...video formats are preferred for practical, hands-on research.”
The city of Graz in Austria has taken a new approach to the problem of beggars. From now on, it will pay foreign beggars $260 each per month to stay off its streets, instead of preying on passers-by Up to 40 beggars will be sent by Graz's social services department to local parishes where they will receive financial help in return for performing odd jobs.
“We're not talking about regular work. Legally that's not possible since foreigners would need a work permit,” said Gernot Wippel, head of Graz Social Services.
Unfortunately, this may lead to Viennese beggars having to protest. If such benefits are only available to foreign mendicants, then they should be` entitled to sue on the basis of discrimination.
A second option might be to introduce some form of 'Beggar Exchange' program based on international twinning. For example, Santa Monica, California, could swap their beggars with Viennese ones. The Santa Monican beggars would not only be able to claim the $260, but also get a trip to one of Europe's most beautiful capital cities. Similarly, the Vienna beggars would get to hang out in LA, maybe do a little surging off of Venice Beach, maybe earn a little extra cash singing traditional Viennese drinking songs along the Venice Boardwalk.
The UN could then set up a 'Beggars International' organization that would ensure that all beggars have equal opportunities to travel the world and beg internationally.
Tis the season to be jolly, that is, if you like running around with some 3000 other people while being chased by stampeding bulls. In the city of Pamplona, the famous 'Running of the Bulls' festival is underway.
In what appears to be a slow start, on the first run (yes, they do it more than once) only three people were hospitalized, thankfully only Spaniards, who, quite frankly, deserve to be gored if their idea of a good time is throwing themselves in front of massive bovines with horns.
But just to prove that Spaniards don't have the monopoly on stupidity, American Justin Hammerback was one of six people injured on the next day. Hammerback, 32, from Chicago, suffered a six-inch wound to the buttocks. Presumably this was almost a brain injury!
So, here is yet another Carny safety tip: Don't put you ass anywhere near the sharp, pointy horns of an angry bull because it is dangerous. Sheesh, do we really have to be saying this? Chicago, are you listening?
Sir
Over the past few years, there has been an upsurge of stories of people talking to angels. Is this a sign that the end is near?
John P., Vatican City
You're asking us? Well, I had an Aunt who used to her voices telling her to check the gas cooker over and over again. Then there was the guy down the street who covered his bedroom walls with aluminum baking wrap to block out the messages from aliens. And hey, David Koreshi had vocal help from a supernatural source, just before burning down his Waco compound.
So is the end near? Well, let's put it this way - anyone convinced the end is nigh is invited to send all cash and surplus property to the Editor of the Carny so that they won't have to face the Lord burdened with earthly wealth. But do it quick, because it may end sooner that you think and I want to get out to buy that Malibu beach-house before the world goes doink!
Score one point for the marketing strategy used by Borders books. As you are probably aware, they have listening stations where you can hear their selections, and this weekend, as I was browsing through the racks, I came across Gabriela Anders' debut album, Wanting. Now, why this particular album caught my attention is open to speculation. Given time, I have no doubt I could find some deep-seated motivation - I think Gabriela is a nice name and so this probably helped, but then this still begs the question of why I should like Gabriela as a name, especially as I don't recall knowing any Gabriela in the past.
Enough of the analysis - amateur Freudians can mail me their own interpretations; Jungians need not apply!
This album is so smooth it could slip off your CD player while you were listening. In style, she is similar to Sade, but her voice is very different. Gabriela has one of those 'little girl lost' type voices that you either love or hate. Her range is superb and on the first track, Fire Of Love, there are places where her high notes blend so perfectly with the trumpet that it is hard to tell them apart.
She also does a cover of The Girl From Ipanema that sounds like liquid silk. The keyboard work offers a blend of vibrato electric piano and round synth solos. Oh, and the guitar and trumpet complement perfectly. Hit the replay!
For more information on this talented Argentinean, go to imusic.com. Warner Bros. Music, 1998.