Porn Bailout

and


In an Andy Kaufman-esque move, porn industry moguls Larry Flynt and Joe Francis said Wednesday that they are asking Washington for a $5 billion federal bailout. Reports from the LA Daily News said that Francis's tone was tongue-in-cheek. However, there have been reports from across the mainstream media of a softening in porn revenues.

Flynt and Francis claim in their press release that porn DVD sales and rentals rates are flaccid, down by 22% in the past year, as individuals devour free porn online. Flynt and Francis say the $5 billion dollar stimulus figure is pulled from the decline in porn industry revenues from a climactic peak of $18 billion three years ago. Obviously, this announcement on the eve of the industry's four-day Adult Entertainment Expo in Las Vegas is a bit of a publicity stunt.

But more hard evidence from the LA Daily News talking to an adult film star named Jenna Presley, she said, "I know companies are reducing their rates. Instead of paying a girl $2,000 for a boy-girl (scene), now they’re trying to pay $1,200. She went on to note that revenues at her on-line site have been less than firm, the LA Daily News says, "Her Web site has seen a 20 percent decline in customers, about 1,000 of whom pay $19.99 a month to watch the 22-year-old perform online."

There is no way Washington, D.C. politicos (Francis and Flynt are petitioning Rep. Barney Frank and Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson) or President-elect Obama are going to include the porn industry in any kind of bailout or stimulus package. But it is interesting to reflect on the idea that the sagging economy is hurting the porn industry. Is this a sign of the depth of the economic woes of the American economy? Is it a sign that porn for most people is a cut-able entertainment expense? The Clarion Content thinks it probably means that there is a lot of free porn on-line.

Good grub

Unfortunately, dear readers the Clarion Content's crack correspondent failed to grab a photo of this resplendent meal. It was a terrific combination for the short days that make up the dark, cold depths of Winter. Perhaps, we will be able to lean on our sources for a recipe or a redo.

When the winds are howling, the fireplace is roaring and all you want to do is bundle up, you can't eat much better than this. The main attraction was a delightful turkey and dumplings pairing. Succulent and moist, it had a perfect texture and a hearty, sustaining warmth. It filled up a cold belly just right. The sides accompanying it were wonderful meshes of flavors. The first was a delicious puree of butternut squash with maple syrup and brandy. The second was spinach emulsified in butter with razor thinly slices of fresh garlic, all tossed in apple cider vinegar, a very inventive contrast of flavors.

The whole plate was a unity was beautiful winter colors of brown, orange and green. The strong savory flavor of the turkey dumplings was finely balanced by the sweet squash dish and offset again in a another direction by the distinctive spinach side.

It was another wonderful local meal by a Durham chef.

No new El Camino

New school


Old school



Sorry 50, Pontiac has decided to scrap the G8 sport truck. Pontiac had been planning on producing a new G8 sport truck with a sleek extended bed, reminiscent of its old El Camino. It even had hip hop star 50 Cent help introduce the truck at the New York auto show. However, the economy, plummeting sales of all vehicles and pressure from Washington to make fuel efficient cars combined to help Pontiac see the light. Sure it would have looked cool, but it was an uber-specialty model that would have gotten awful mileage. Besides the Clarion Content sure is 50 got to keep one of the demos.

Superblock

Per Dad's request:

And as long as we're at it, a video dedicated to the iPJ. There's one line here that fits perfectly :) :

Apple Introduces Revolutionary New Laptop With No Keyboard

Lunch Date

ATTACK II

Incredible images by Steve Winter. Don't believe me? How about this:


Got some close-ups of bugs for ya if that's more your thing.
Or, you know, ping pong with nunchuks:

NASA - Saturn's Polar Aurora
100+ of Nature's Strangest Animals and Plants
National Geographic 2008 Photography Winners
Charlie Brown and racial politics
Creative Architecturaland Graphic Illusions
AND NOW, SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY:

Metal Heart from Keith Loutit on Vimeo

A Chinese Democracy Timeline, because I KNOW you care.
Via Metafilter, a ton of links on our bad boy neighbor town to the north, Jerome.
Also via Metafilter, everything you ever wanted to know about the NYT Xword.
Roger Ebert's response to Ben Stein's TERRIBLE film.
Another funny SNL digital short for those who enjoyed "Richard in a Box." And here's Justin Timberlake being hilarious.
The addictive passive aggressive notes blog.
Another of my favorite images from 2008 (Cary Conover):


SUPERCUTE: ZooBorns
Supercuter: this photo (check story here):

Cool Book Review Site The New Canon focuses on books from 1985-present.
Real-life Far Side Re-enactments
It’s a Miserable Life!
Cool art project involving 1000 blocks.

If you only check one link: Creative Grooming

Game time: SPY HUNTER! YES! Other old school games. Indie best-of-2008 games. Still others.
Top 1000 films. Perhaps we can use some of those for our Netflix. Ah, who am I kidding. Miss Congeniality it is.
This is what happens when you freeze bubbles.
This Year's Edge Question
The guy who brought you "Ultimate Frisbee" brings you "Soccer Ball in the Face."He has mp3 downloads, too.

Unbelievably, that empties my "links to post" folder. To cap it off, here's a mash-up of the top 25 songs of 2008, followed my muppetonian brilliance:

ATTACK

A cool essay on "Tom's Diner," aka the doo doo doo doo doo doo song, both by Suzanne Vega.
Old news, but maybe the reason the Cubs lost in the playoffs in 2007 is the usual culprit: bad luck.
Of course, there are other takes - an elegy, or a declaration that this was the WORST LOSS EVER.
What's the baddest stringed instrument in all the land? DAMN STRAIGHT.
On the other hand - and I am serious here - if you really want to get fired up, try this.
Internet Classic: Top 100 Things I'd Do if I Were an Evil Overlord.
Just for sheer weirdness, this is my favorite webpage of 2008.
The 150 Best Online Flash Games
If you think you have a Mad Men / Conquistador obsession, check out this guy's comments on the show's use of fonts.
Get yer dork on: funny story about Tron.
And you don't even like boys?
I love this picture:

That's Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips; here's the article about his house in OK.
Nice site of photos (lotsa jazz people) from recently deceased William Claxton.
Science myths perpetuated by grade school textbooks.
Yet another interview with DFW, this time discussing the role of the (post)modern author.
Some cool illustrations on the topic of music lovier crate digging.
Newspaper goofs or, if you prefer, the "blog" of "uneccesary" quotes.
Not real, but funny.
Can you name all 30 NHL teams in five minutes?
Best microscopic images of 2008. Or, an awesome macroscopic shot of the recent eclipse. Or hummingbirds! Or gorgeous feather shots.
Pretty entertaining CARTOON-OFF!
A model of Fenway.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
The usual genius of dinosaur comics.
Andy Kaufman documentary "I'm From Hollywood."
The unbearable cuteness of upside down dogs.
Simpsons references next to their movies.
Test your rxn time! Mine was .201 seconds. Wahoo.
Or take this quiz on greatest hits collections. I got 100%!
Straight up genius: Twin Peaks, then and now.
Some commentary on the logic of obscene language.
Mini-games! Check Tasha in particular.
Did I post this already? David Sedaris's piece on the election. Even funnier in person.
For any interested anatomists: Godzilla.
Okay, this is pretty awesome:

François Macré - Thriller (reprise A'cappella 64 pistes)

Derrida discussing something stunningly everyday.
An exceedingly fun dodging game.
Dia de los Muertos pics.
And you know this is great (click pic for story):


Okay, that's enough for now. I'll leave you with a pair of videos - the first I will not actually post here for reasons that will become apparent (a lot of faux nudity and some bad language, but trust me, used for comedic artistic effect. And it involves David Byrne, so check it out). The second is existential angst at its furriest: