Hookers and Strippers Legal and Moral?

Prostitution...what does this word mean? The oldest profession basically means "engaging in sex acts for hire" or more bluntly "exchanging sex for money".

When we speak of prostitution, we visualise women in utterly tasteless attires, soliciting somewhere in the streets; or we see women clad in designer garbs escorting highly successful business (yet unsuccessful in relationships) men.

However there are other types of harlots:

1. The cocottes who date married men with the single purpose of obtaining presents; clothes, cars, have their household rent paid, etc.

2. The private bawds who legally unite themselves to rich men with the unique goal of satisfying their sexual needs in exchange for jewellery, fur on their backs, a fully loaded car, a phat [1] bank account, a luxurious home to dwell in, designer frocks & shoes etc...

It could be argued that cocottes and private bawds are not prostitutes, but simply women who found an alternative way of life; however since they engage in sexual intercourse in exchange of “assets and property considered in terms of monetary value” (i.e. money) I’d say they are a cheap version of courtesans.

But these are not the only forms of prostitution. Let’s not forget the male prostitutes and gigolos.

The difference between male prostitutes and female ones is that the first are quite well tolerated by society (let’s say that their services are quite useful: they either calm down rich needy women [gigolos], or they fulfil the fantasies of men who haven’t come out of the closet and don’t intend to do so any time soon [male prostitutes]); whereas the second are pointed as if they were the scum of society (despite the convenience & popularity of their provided services). Sexism exists even in the underground world of prostitution.

How is this profession dealt with by European governments? Bad, irresponsible and disrespectfully I’d say. In most European countries, prostitution is legal (except in East Europe, Sweden and Norway), but in a very hypocritical way. For example, they allow a person to sell its body, but it cannot associate itself in a sex-joint venture (i.e. brothel) and it is not obliged to be regularly examined by a doctor.

Governments should legalise prostitution, for it is a question of public health and nations’ GDP.

If governments would legalise prostitution, they would have to circumscribe the sex-traders to places where they can effectively trade (sex-joint ventures; thus taking them off some residential zones [of the wealthy and embassies] – like here in Portugal); they’d have to order these women to be observed by doctors once a week, do monthly check-ups; they’d have to instruct the Immigration Office [to check for illegal labour] and the Police [to check for sex trafficking victims] to proceed with regular inspections; they’d have to enforce sex-traders to pay their taxes and discount for social security (governments speak of money laundry so much, here it is one way to begin its end). Legalising this activity would also help fighting human traffic.

For example, it is said that in France each prostitute earns at least €500/day; if they work 6 days a week (because even sex-traders must rest) they’ll earn €3,000/week, which means that at the end of a fiscal year they will make €144,000. It is estimated to be 20,000 prostitutes in this country, which means that this is a €2,880,000,000 business. Since the French government charges taxes to its sex-traders, this means (at a 40% tax for income above €66,679) that €1,152,000,000 goes to the state’s vaults. This is a lot of money.

Countries like Portugal do not charge income taxes to its prostitutes’...

Is prostitution moral? You tell me. Morality is a“Code of conduct which is held to be authoritative in matters of right and wrong." And since codes of conduct have been changing over time, I will refrain from saying whatsoever. For now, I only can say what is immoral: to force people into prostitution.

Striptease is a legal activity where women not only undress themselves slowly while dancing but also perform exotic sexually charged choreographies thru the use of a pole.

I little have to say about this profession since it has put many young women through college. If they are not forced into it, exploited, obligated to provide sexual services, and they are grown up women….I don’t see why not.

Pole dancing has become extremely popular. So popular that it is turning into a sport and a performing art; which means that many women (and men apparently) join pole dancing classes to learn how to do a knee hold (image above), a cross knee release; spins, body inversions, etc.

Before leaving, I’d like to offer some tips to strip-club owners:

I. Image is everything: cellulite damages big time (if you invest in breast implants, why not investing in anti-cellulite creams and in a masseuse?).

II. Keep your club classy: who knows, you might even draw a female clientele.

III. Look at Moulin Rouge and the Crazy Horse: first class dancers and acts.

Now, why do men, in general, enjoy striptease shows so much anyway?

For further reading on this inflammable theme, please beam over to LS’ blog: Here

[1] Phat: pretty hot and tempting.

Image: taken from Wikipedia.

Possible Things to Say...

It can't be easy being a parent.
Before I commence, I'd like to pay my respects to all parents in the world: God bless you!

I have always found it so cute when kids start saying what they want to be when they grow up (of course half of them end up by being something completely diverse of what they had initially planned): ballerina, fireman, police officer, doctor, singer etc.
And parents always bear proud and shiny faces.
However I wonder which look their countenance would bear, and what reaction they’d have, if their kids would convey their wish to be an undertaker, for example...
But there is worse...

Please allow me to share 4 unusual professional paths that kids could dream of pursuing; and the possible things their parents could tell them.

I. “Mom, dad; I want to be a whore.”
Possible reaction: oh sure, darling; if that is your dream job. Of course the family will support your decision...when you’re 60. Until then go to school, finish your education; get a decent job; try being a good human being, a parent, a good neighbour; then when you’re 60...if you are still willing to be a sex-trader, we might help you open a brothel...over your father’s dead body.

II. “Dad, mom; I’d like to be a drug dealer.”
Possible reaction: you are so not watching “Weeds” ever again in your life. Do you think it is easy to be a drug dealer? First you’ll need to find a chemistry graduate, who is either a loser or a natural born criminal, in order to process the drugs; then you’ll need to find a couple of loser girlfriends to bag the s***; then you will need 3 or 4 losers to distribute the product; then you’ll have to organise an army of junior-mafia to protect you and your business; and finally you will have to pass math and chemistry first, then go to college (to take a Business administration degree), read the “Art of War” by Sun Tzu, join a gang and lose all the respect for human life...this, if you wish to prosper, since you have no gangster background.

III. “Mom, dad; I wish to be a model.”
Possible reaction: but of course! I don’t even know how I didn’t think of exploiting you before. I must be such a terrible parent because I should have encouraged you not to eat; to take slimming pills; to read fashion magazines all day long; I should have submitted your 14-year old to superfluous plastic surgeries; thrown you into the arms of fat, sweaty, disgusting, statutory rapists and manipulative agents; subjected you to the women-haters in the fashion world that will tell you that you are fat even if you’re skin and bone; and dreamed to applaud your drunk-like-nearly-fainting-due to-malnourishment performance on the catwalk. Sure, go ahead.

IV. “Dad, mom, I want to be a Chippendales dancer.”
Possible reaction: why would you, as a man, want to wear a thong in the first place? They are not even made of cotton. If your dream is to have a bunch of women touching you and placing money in your G-string....sure, why not...kill your mother of embarrassment. To tell you the truth, I am quite surprised at these news; given the fact that you don’t even like to exercise yourself, and you are bulging. Women will not pay to see you shake your jelly, they will call you fat and that “More to love, baby” line won’t work...this is not “The Simpsons”. I’ll pray for you.

It is not easy to be a parent. They endure a lot of stuff from their kids (and teens have the nerve to think that they are the victims here)...sometimes I think that parenthood is karma burning from all the things we put our mother and father through.

Anyway, what do you think your reaction would be if your kid, grandchild, nephew or even cousin would tell you it would want to pursue one of these odd dream-careers?

Image: St. Catherine by Caravaggio

The Lusosphere: São Tomé and Príncipe

Let's rewind a bit...

1471: The Island of São Tomé is discovered on the 21st of December (St. Thomas' Day).

1472: The Santo Antão Island is discovered on the 17th of January (St. Anthony's Day).

Both Islands were discovered by João de Santarém and Pedro Escobar.

1493: The first successful settlement in São Tomé, established by Álvaro Caminha, to whom the land was granted by the crown.

1500: Príncipe is settled.

1502: Santo Antão Island sees its name changed into Príncipe Island ((Príncipe = Prince), in honour of the Prince of Portugal (to whom the duties of the sugar crop - generated by the Island - were paid).

The settlement of these islands was very difficult, for people were not attracted to them; so the initial settlers were the "unwanted" of Portugal, mostly the Jewish people.

The settlers started growing sugar there, for the volcanic soil of the region was extremely suitable for agriculture. This enterprise was labour-intensive, so the Portuguese began importing large numbers of slaves from the mainland. These Islands became Africa's top exporter of sugar.

1522: São Tomé is taken over and managed by the Portuguese crown.

1573: Príncipe is controlled and managed by the Portuguese crown.

Next 100 years: Sugar cultivation declines (since it began to be grown in other colonies in the western hemisphere, which hurt the business of the islands. Plus the large slave population was difficult to control). In the 17th century São Tomé became a transit point for ships involved in the slave trade.

In the 19th century, two new crops are introduced: coffee and cocoa. This new crop industry gave birth to the "roças" (extensive plantations) owned either by Portuguese companies or absent landlords. In these plantations abuse against the African farm workers was very common.

1908: São Tomé becomes the world's largest producer of cocoa.

During the first decade of the 20th century, it was exposed (on an international level) the fact that Angolan contract workers were being subjected to forced labour under unhuman working conditions.

1953: an outbreak of riots, in which hundreds of African workers were killed in a clash with the Portuguese rulers. This was known as the "Batepá Massacre" (whose anniversary is officially observed by the government).

In this decade, the MLSTP was born (Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe).

1975: on the 12th of July, São Tomé and Príncipe achieved its independence. Its first president was MLSTP's Secretary General Manuel Pinto da Costa.

Demographics

Total population: +/- 137,500 in São Tomé; 6,000 in Príncipe.

They all descend from various ethinic groups that have migrated to the islands since 1485:

Mestiços (mulattoes): descendants of Portuguese colonist and African slaves brought from Benin, Gabon and Congo.

Angolares: descendants of Angolan slaves.

Forros: descendants of freed slaves.

Serviçais: contract laborers from Angola, Mozambique and Cape Verde, living temporarily in the Islands.

Tongas: children of serviçais born in the Islands.

Europeans: mainly Portuguese.

Asians: mainly Chinese and Macanese people (of mixed Portuguese and Chinese ancestry from Macau).

Language

The official language is the Portuguese (spoken by 95% of the population).

However there are three other spoken languages in the country (Portuguese-based creoles): Forro (85%), Angolar (3%) and Principense (0.1%).

French is also taught in schools (since the country is a member of Francophonie).

Music

The main genres of this country are: Ússua (ball dance where women wear traditional costumes and men wear straw hats plus an embroidered towel around their wrist to wipe off the sweat); Dêxa (rooted in Angola, with scornful lyrics); Puita (drum-based, extremely erotic and sexual); D'Jambi (similar to Puita, but played in healing rituals); and Bligá (a mix of dance and game).

However, there is also a genre called Tchiloli - a musical dance performance that tells a dramatic story.

Since it is spring time, we shall begin by visualising Puita, interpreted by Camilo Domingos. Enjoy!

Next Stop: Equatorial Guinea

"There is no Happiness...

...only happy moments!”

I had enough! Too many social gatherings, too many pseudo-intellectual articles where I have to read and listen to this silly sentence without expressing what I really think of it – enough is enough.

Let’s repeat it together “There is no happiness, only happy moments!” now...what is wrong with this statement?

First, “there is no happiness” an utter fallacy. There is happiness, it is out there: one either pursues it or not (but if one chooses not to go after it, it is improper to affirm that happiness doesn’t exist).

Second, “only happy moments”...this is an admission that there is in fact happiness. For “happy moments” to exist one must be happy at a certain period of time (or several), and if one is happy then; this means that happiness exists (even if one chooses to associate itself with it only for a second, and then go back to be unhappy by choice).

I wonder if some people think, analyse and interpret what they spit onto the air. And what is worse: they make these statements with such propriety, expecting us to fall into utter fascination; to be mesmerised by their brain; repeat their nonsense and spread it like a virus. I observe, I listen, I laugh.

Etiquette forces me into silence. But should I continue to allow it to do so?

We must choose to be happy. But most people have the wrong notion of what being happy means, and then come up with silly antitheses.

Happiness = accepting life as it presents to us.

Happiness is not about smiling all the time; it is not about being effusively festive everyday; it is not about being hurdle-free throughout time and, it is certainly not about having money and possessions.

One may not smile all the time and yet be extremely happy; one may find itself fighting against obstacles from the day it was born until the day it perishes and still be immensely happy; one may not have a dime and still make others wonder how it can be as happy as an Angel.

This represents no mystery. When one understands life, when one comprehends the complexity of existence; when one doesn’t go against the flow of breath; when one accepts the vicissitudes of life as being part of being here; when one accepts oneself then...it is happy all the time.

Buddha said “All is dukkha (suffering, pain)”. At first, this may sound negative; however it isn’t really. This simple sentence is one of the many keys to happiness; for it offers the premise of beingness (we are born – we cry, we suffer; unfulfilled needs – we suffer; frustrations – we suffer; heartbreaks – we suffer; cravings – we suffer; detachment – we suffer; clinging – we suffer; loss – we suffer; misconceptions, misinformation, misleading, untruths, lies – we suffer...) on earth, so that we can avoid adding pain to an already painful existence, and choose being happy to offset it.

Embrace happiness. Don’t reject it. Don’t run away from it. It’s your choice. Your choice.

Image: Fire at Night by Francisco de Goya

SlogBite was Launched!

That's right: a new Directory is out on the market!

And this Directory is not like the others: it accepts both blogs and websites; it doesn't impose despotic rules on its members; it does not discriminate; it has categories that actually describe your blog/website; you can enter as many categories as you see fit; you have a voice there (your opinion counts); you meet new people, new blogs; and you can play games (literally)!

I am talking about SlogBite.

SB (as we members call it) was launched yesterday, 2nd of April 2009: it already has, at least, 500 members and 860 different categories (and growing).

On Lauching date it granted four of its members the Pre-Launch Award, for their efforts in spreading out the word and encouraging others to join the SB community! I congratulate Mariuca, Maitri's Heart and Authentic Greek Recipes!

I Proudly say that I was one of those four who were awarded by SB (I would like to thank Cidão, Adriana, Juca, KBguy, Alexys, Swu, and LS - you guys rock!) and had the honour to share the 1st Place with Mariuca.

To read the reasoning behind SB, click Here.

Join us and...See the Best before you See the Rest!