Wednesday, December 20th, 2000

More Bogus Awards?

Heywood Jablowme writes: Luke: Have you heard about the Adult DVD Empire award show?

It looks FIXED, just like the AVN awards! The last thing this business needs is another bogus awards show. If Adult DVD Empire wants to give out awards, OK, but they portray themselves as an independent, unbiased authority (just like AVN does! Hahaha!)

Need proof? Let's look at the facts. The Adult DVD Empire awards show will be broadcast on the Tera Show.

Tera Show=DIGITAL PLAYGROUND.

Is it just a coincidence that DIGITAL PLAYGROUND received 11 nominations? Or that All Star (from DIGITAL PLAYGROUND) was the MOST nominated movie? Who are they fooling? Should ALL STAR really be the most nominated dvd?

Is it just a coincidence that DIGITAL PLAYGROUND used to ship new releases to Adult DVD Empire two weeks before other retailers. Or that Atomic (DIGITAL PLAYGROUND) received 40% of the GAY nominations? If that's not a conflict then what is?

Where are the nominations for Digital Sin? Digital Sin is widely regarded as having some of the best INTERACTIVE DVDS on the 'MY PLAYTHING' line. But for some strange reason they didn't receive ANY nominations. Could it have anything to do with the bitter rivalry between DIGITAL PLAYGROUND and it's arch-enemy, Digital Sin?

Luke, maybe these awards should be called the Digital Playground Awards.

Accurate Porn Stats

I spoke Wednesday afternoon with a mainstream reporter looking for accurate statistics on the porn industry. I wished him good luck and urged him to employ skepticism with regard to the claims of accurate stats coming from the three largest industry providers of such numbers - Adult Video News, the Free Speech Coalition, and Andrew Edmond's Flying Crocodile.

Read Luke's dated essay on the business of the porn business.

I just found out that the Federal Trade Commission monitors my site (probably along with the FBI). Hi guys!

BrandyAlx1: I agree with you on getting accurate numbers. In some arenas it looks better for the industry to lowball, in other, highball. The deliberate inaccuracies are proffered from every person involved in the industry who thinks they might be quoted. Perhaps the writer would have better success infiltrating the industry and taking notes.

Frank Porner says: "The whole f---ing business... Everybody is just tied to everybody in so many f---ing ways. Everybody's been f---ed repeatedly by everybody else but they still do business with them. Because noone else will. Everybody owes everybody money. Every company has their own stores. Every company buys other people's product to put in their own stores. And everybody owes those companies money for that product.

"AVN is so inextricably linked to everybody else, I don't see how it can go down in flames. The whole AVN Awards is just to make people feel better. It's to make them feel better about producing pornography. Who's proud to get The Most Outrageous Sex Scene award? It's just something that a company can put on their shelf and say, 'Look, we're highly recognized for the type of stuff that we do.' The rest of the world could care less.

"Shooters think that it is important to get good reviews on their product, but companies basically sell the same amount of product no matter what the review. And usually the reviews don't come out until you've shipped the movie to stores."

Luke: "A good thing to come out of these AVN revelations is that surely now Paul Fishbein and AVN can't be so sanctimonious. If they just admit that they're as sleazy as the rest of the industry... They're a sleazy industry rag that does suck jobs."

Porner: "That's what they are."

Luke: "But they put it over the mainstream media that they are an authoritative source on porn. And the mainstream media accept AVN's stats and proclamations."

Porner: "Because AVN is the only place they can go to get information. There's no other option. The mainstream knows so little about the porn industry. And why would they want to dig deeply anyway into porn?"

Luke Gets Mail

MStone writes: Luke, Just to let you know Bridgette Kerkove only gets 665 searches on goto.com for october as compared with tera patrick,(113,000)jenna gets about300,000 or sylvia saint who gets about 130,000 searches in a month. Which equates to 10 x these amounts on big search engines. Basically nobody is searching for her on the web.

BrandyAlx1: I was just thinking of someone who wrote to me asking what the average mid-level porn star makes. He apparently encountered one at a strip club who claimed to get $5,000 per movie.
BrandyAlx1: My response was that if she did make $5,000 per movie, she wouldn't be in the strip club.
BrandyAlx1: She was a regular house girl apparently, living off tips and such and relying on pitty from her patrons. Seems such a lie is a bit counter-productive, but few in the biz are known for their brains.
BrandyAlx1: Chaim says: But we all know that God created man to lust after young, fertile females, and not older women who are past their child bearing years.
BrandyAlx1: Who says? There are many species of animal that mates for life, even within species that lose fertility as they age. If you want to be known as one of the lesser evolved, you have that right. But don't claim to know what an alleged god intended, and acknowledge that our advanced intelligent and civilized nature given by god is intended to help us rise above the animals.
BrandyAlx1: Only the weak-minded succomb to "nature" or use it as an excuse to indulge themselves. Interestingly enough it is only the weak-minded who follow religion (don't look at me! Jesse Ventura said that. I just agree with him).

Return Of YNOT Rick

In 1996, Rick Muenyong founded the YNOTnetwork.com, the first comprehensive adult webmaster resource center. He sold the company in January 1999 to Andrew Edmond and began quietly pursuing mainstream ventures. His first big one - Ranks.com will debut February 1st, 2001. Click here for a preview.

Listen here to my Wednesday afternoon interview with Rick Muenyong.

Rick writes on Netpond: Hey friends and fellow webmasters! I have an exciting announcement: Following the successful aquisition of YNOT Network, I've been working non-stop building and re-building my new venture called Ranks.com. I've kept the project under wraps for quite a while, and am now looking to get some public reaction and investor interest. Months of hard work is now ready to be previewed, and soon completely released. I invite you to stop by and read about Ranks.com and how we will simplify the way people search the web. Be sure to check out the Executive Summary and Web-site Previews. The official launch date is February 1st, 2001. Investors, this opportunity will close rather quickly... please contact me right away if you need more information. Today, December 20th, is the first day of our funding campaign.

Webmaster@Nichefind.com writes on Netpond: ranks.com is an idea in need of a real business plan with real numbers... Paying more for a secretary than an accountant was the first clue on priorities then came the slam on the programmer... Been there, done that...with the current plan ranks will be an unranked .com and the cash will be gone...buy t-bills and rethink this venture before you go any further.

BigBadDog writes on Netpond: Rick--- A fool and his money are soon parted. See the Nasdaq today?? Down another 7%. Take that YNOT money, thank God that you sold it when you did, invest in blue chips and take a nice long vacation. Good luck anyway. I could be wrong.

MaimMe writes on Netpond: Rick, My public opinion about ranks.com since you are looking for some. I think thats going to tank once you finished spending that capital you have there. $100k in marketing/month ? That goes a long way in adult baby, and in non-adult (surfer), it won't get you past the door.

About your projects on revenues.. I don't know what world you are in, but 20k SURFER traffic, will surely not bring you $35k a month, probably give you like $5k a month if you are lucky :) and your extended forecasts revenue for the later months.. I don't know where you can possibly get $500k revenue from advertisers for untargeted (poor) surfers.

In all and all, You are spending too much for a weak product, I thikn I can get up a search engine/ Even Goto style/ plus your ranking style in less then 2 weeks. Takes 3 days to get up the design. Total - 2.5 weeks I hope you aren't sitting around for 5 months working on that project alone, people must be sitting in your office chatting about the last episode of Sex in the city all day. Yes this is only my opinion, no need to flame an opinion.

Rick replies: maimMe, You're certainly entitled to your opinion, and it is well noted. I don't think you're aware of the work that does go behind building a site like this. I assume you have the experience to know what building a site of this caliber takes. I don't know where you get the idea that our traffic will be poor untargeted surfers... that's far from the truth. Think what you want about the amount of time it takes to plan a project of this magnitude.. but your dead wrong. Check back with me in 3 months..

Rick writes Luke: i saw you posted some netpond comments... every negative post about ranks.com came only from that board, but there were positive comments posted elsewhere...

I got a ton of email as well, all positive! it's hard to challenge the validity of the opinions on netpond, but it's probably not co-incedence that because of my conflicts with netpond in the past.. folks come out negatively at netpond, where elsewhere opinions are nothing but good. just thought you should be aware, it looks real bad when you're focusing only on the negative...

i know your a entertainment columnist set out to grab dirt though... you've said that many times, so i can't disrespect your integrity.

Alec Helmy posts on 69Spot.com: Hey Rick! Just took a look at the site and I think it looks great! It seems similar to the original MAD concept (right?). The Ranks site layout is super clean and easy on the eyes (which I think is VERY important in gaining bookmarks). The graphics style is really cool and laid back (did you do all the graphics?) Looks like it'll be a big hit!

The Tera Show

Adella O'Neal writes: Digital Playground’s December 19th broadcast of The Tera Show had Alisha Klass (looking incredibly gorgeous) on her hands and knees, (ass in the air) barking like a dog in Jingle Bell time to please her fans. Alisha filled in for Tera Patrick, while Tera was on set, filming the lead for the next Everlast video (it should debut on MTV next month).

Special guest, Brittany O’Connell stripped naked, baring some incredibly natural looking, (but accordingly enhanced) breasts. She’ll be broadcasting her own LIVE show on January 4th from Las Vegas, you can get more information on this at http://www.brittanyoconnell.com. Industry newcomer Catalina wooed all the viewers with her amazingly tan and tight hard body. Evidently, she has Mexican genes (no reference to Gene Ross) and her hair is really curly. Her intense sexual energy lured her into the adult industry. She recently shot her first scene for Max Hardcore – and she LOVED it. Look for it soon at video stores everywhere.

Industry veteran, blonde and busty, Zoe, failed to show up for her advertised appearance on The Tera Show. As of noon today, she’s still missing. If you know of her whereabouts, or if you’d like to book her for anything, you can contact her manager, Tabetha Yang at TY Productions, 310-858-1459.

DIGITAL PLAYGROUND’S next broadcast of The Tera Show is on January 16th at 7:00 PM. Tera Patrick will be back in the studio with special guests BRIDGETTE KERKOVE, MR. MARCUS and industry trouble-maker, Luke F-rd!!!

Jasper

Patrick writes: Hey Mr. Ford, First I want to tell you I really like you website and find it fasinating. I already have it bookmarked. Last weekend I had the pleasure of meeting Jessica Drake and I asked her about websites to look at for this business and she recomended yours to me and I like it a lot. She was a real sweet girl by the way, very friendly and down to earth. You could tell she was sincere about the business and was just down right fun to talk to.

Anyway, my question for you is this. My favorite actress is a girl named Jasper. That's her only name. She has long curly blonde hair and a high pitched voice. She seems to be a real party girl. She was nominated for "Paging Betty" for a AVN award for best supporting actress. I don't know if she is still in the business or not. She often worked with the comedian/actors Johnathen Morgan and Steven St. Croix. Does she still dance or tour?? Is she still in the business??

Why Are Porners Hysterical Over Bush?

Mike writes: Hey Luke you must answer me this question. Why has Penthouse and Guccioni been going hysterical over the Bush victory. They had three negative articlesin a row on their web site hitting Bush about the death penalty, the religious right, and now that he's the most unpopular President ever elected and that Gore is the peoples President. I believe these diatribes from Guccioni as well as Hefner and Flint are because people who produce porn or adult material deep down feel they are at the bottom of societies latter and so they must attack those they percieve as making them feel guilty, that being the religious right and conservatives.They all love abortion because that represents the last dike in the dam if you pardon the expression , to unlimited sexual freedon without consequences. They seem particulary angry because Clinton was the first President ever who actually thinks and acts like them.This must be pschologically truamatic to have what they think is their successfull two term president not be able to get his robot vice president elected. You know these people better than me so what do you think?

Luke: Pornographers react viscerally against those who subscribe to a higher moral law. That is, conservatives and the religious. So Bush and company drive pornographers nuts, totally aside from considerations of how Republicans will affect the porn business. So I think you put your finger right on the point.

Mike replies: I first heard of you a few years ago from an article in the Weekly Standard. You really do serve a purpose as the bridge between the Porn world and I'll call it the "Normal World" because porn is becoming more and more main stream.O.K. since you said I was right on the first time indulge me this last thought and see if I'm on. I have also noticed that these guys of course love hanging out with young women especially Hefner and now I think Guccioni is married to or dating some woman like 20-30 yrs younger. To me this is a sign of under developed adolecense. Of course men are more sexually agressive and physical attraction means more to men than women. Delayment of gratification in this case having a mature relationship with a woman of a similar age is what a man (not a guy) is about. Religion reinforces this which is why they are so extreme about their positions and hate religion because it reminds them they are leading a much more shallow and ultimately less meaningfull life. Sex is like a rush or drug once gone you must get a new fix. This is how extreme they are. I once took an sculpture class at U.C.L.A and I remember one of the nude models saying after that she though what she did was ok but that she believed that some modesty in displaying the nude figure was needed. That meant not on some large billboard or bus sign or spread eagle like Guccioni would probably want. See she wasn't just thinking about her "freedom to express herself". Her thinking was quite frankly a relief to me and I can only say that these porn guys would find it repressive no doubt.

Chaim Amalek writes: Why do older men have sex with young women? Because they can (when they can). What is mysterious to me is why grown men and women even ask such a question. Sure, a married man is expected to remain faithful to the mother of his children come what may. But we all know that God created man to lust after young, fertile females, and not older women who are past their child bearing years. That inclination stays with a man for all of his life. That's just the way things are, and ain't no legislation or propaganda going to change it.

Lynne writes: Most of us porn guys believe in context, too. There is a place for spread eagle, and U.C.L.A. sculpture class isn't it. People hate religion not because it reminds them they are leading a shallow life, but because it is nonsensical and creates a lot of chaos in this world. Holy wars, genocide, that sort of thing.

It is relatively easy to be ethical or moral in the absence of religion, but difficult to be spiritual. Most pornographers actually hold rather conservative religious beliefs about most subjects. With the exception of talent's sexual activities, pornographers lead personal lives similar to those of their non-porn peers. They believe in the same God you do, Luke. They just don't hold to ALL the social strictures.

Lynne: "Higher?" You mean, "more restrictive?" People who subscribe to a more restrictive moral law and congratulate themselves for adhering to it aren't necessarily more morally evolved, they just have no sense of self discipline other than a rather juvenile system of reward and punishment.

In one way, a repressive system is better for the porn business than a liberal one, as driving porn back underground would return the profit margins and the tax status to their previous stupendous level. I agree that Gore's loss troubles pornographers, and that they did enjoy Clinton. I'd love to play "cigar" with Bill myself. But as to a visceral reaction against Republicans? Who cares? In the long run, all governments are equally corruptible...it's just the nature of those who adhere to "law and order."

Amused writes: Mike wanted to draw all sorts of psychological reasons why Penthouse publisher, Bob Guccione, dates women 20 - 30 years younger than him. Well, I read Sunday in the celebrity birthday column that Guccione turned 70! If he can score with a hot 50 year old, more power to him.

Axle writes: guccioni bashing bush over the death penalty is especially suspect considering that a retard was put to death under clinton's watch as governor of arkansas. as far as hefner goes, he's a national discrace but considered a hero amongst many of my peers. is he the only guy in the country that didn't realize his foray into fatherhood was, to put it lightly, cavalier? talk about taking something lightly. i'm no prude and no conservative but i cannot imagine my own father leaving my mother and months later appearing on the cover of a magazine proudly displaying his new twin girlfriends. what a f---ing joke(and a f---ing asshole). no class. as far as flynt goes, do i have to point out again the irony of a guy whose been unfairly run thru the ringer of our legal system like he has coming to the defense of a guy who has absolutely no regard for ordinary citizens who have to deal with same(i'm thinking paula jones)? sometimes i feel like eddie albert on green acres, surrounded by so many nuts i feel like i'm the one going crazy.

Farrell Timlake writes: Nowhere in Moses' law is there a moral statute against sex. The closest thing is coveting your neighbors wife is not immoral because of the sex, it is immoral because of the coveting. What would be in the spirit of the divine to create such a conundrum to vex mankind by making sex a sin? In whose interest's does it lie that sex should be deemed "immoral" and by what standard is pornography therefore unethical?

The same greed and contempt for mankind that causes so many, and not just porn people, to break those same commandments renders the only aspect of pornography that is unethical. Its like that old NRA line, guns don't kill people, people kill people. Sex with its manifold mysterious yet obvious pleasures spans all race and religion. In the universality and sustaining facets of its being there is a glimpse of the sublime, especially in the act of creation, no matter how it is tainted by man's wickedness. The only thing that makes it unethical is when people are willing to lie, cheat, and steal to get it.

May all the republicans and the democrats, the muslims and the jews, the porn stars and the suitcase pimps, gene and AVN, all come together during this holiday season and remember that God made sex fun for a reason. Fellow pornographers must hold sacred this orgasmic spirit, give praise to the holy, don't fart on your talent, and enjoy everything in moderation.

Best wishes to all from Farrell at Homegrown Video where we still believe that sex is sacred and have been making the best amateur videos in the world as testament to our faith.

Alien writes Luke: Hey Luke sorry I missed ya today on the show. I notice that you have a guy posting thoughts about people in the industry as having a low moral character profile. Very neat.

To discuss some and add to the conversation I got this for all to ponder:)

Ever think that morality is much like prejudice? It seem's that many of the qualities and ingredients of morality are intertwined with prejudice and it's ingredients when described and spoke of. Like prejudice, morality is a psychological illusion that makes it's self real every day in society. It's effects range from violent clashes of humanity to discrediting socially fellow men/women in casual every day settings when an opinion is formulated.

Many may speak about what is immoral or moral. However having one or the other as an opinion is a position, that brings it that much closer to a prejudice does it not? We all like to think to our selves, "Yeah I am open minded! Sure! I understand things", but in truth the individual is alluding himself or herself. We are alive and sentient and thus with that comes an opinion on everything, and to boot it is more than often about things one does not understand.

Example: While an older man may have had intercourse with a 20 year old girl, some would view him as having a psychological problem. While others would not think a thing of it. The perspective is created in this situation, and the opinion is created in your head and your readers heads. Do you shun the guy? Or. Do you think ehh what's the big deal? What ever your perspective, the truth is this. The older man really is not hurting anyone is he? A younger woman whom may indeed love him or have relations out of preference becomes subject to this judgment. If there is an opinion, then it has been labeled and an individual position about this matter is noted by you, and those whom reach this document.

Thus making the older man and the younger woman possible targets of ridicule and possible targets of praise. The negative effect of course is the ridicule aspect of this situation. It is negative and has the ability to create conflict. Thus an ill effect is made for the living by the living creating unhappiness.

This is a simple demonstration of huge a human flaw. Our minds are still incapable of seeing many things that relate to cause and effect great or small spawned from human histories. So in an age of communication with everything to win and everything to loose, how does one hedge a bet?

Yes, I spoke to Yoda the other day. He is indeed right when he said it in his great supporting role within the Lucas epic. "Fear leads to Anger. Anger leads to Hatred. Hatred leads to Suffering..."

Steve Neece writes: What makes the religious and/or conservitive more innately moral than those who are not?????Atheists are UNDER represented in the prison population.This has been proven in survey after survey.The most intensely religious are far more likely to be child and spouse abusers that those who are not and more often than not will justify their actions with biblical references.They are also the least tolerant and are usually anti intellectual and despise higher culture.This is also backed up by mountains of sociological .The most profoundly religious groups are also at the BOTTOM of income,education and intelligence levels.Whatever the Kerkoves shortcomings may be,they are infinitely morally superior the the typical Hasidic Jew who commonly makes the lives of his family a living hell and is as unpleasant to gentiles as he feels he can be without financial backlash and feels justified in doing so by the Talmud.You talk about the glories of Judaism but the Jews that have contributed the most to society and humanity have been overwhelmingly secular ,or Reform at most.It is secular Jews and their productivity that allow your beloved Orthodox brethern to wallow in their vile lifestyles.They would not survive economically or politically without their despised secular brethern.I expect a reply.Remember ,in Judaism silence equals consent.

Ian writes: Hi Luke, I asked you to define morality for me, and you replied:

"I mean by the word "moral" what others also mean by the word. By the way it is generally understood. Being moral and ethical generally connotes doing the right thing, a willingness to sacrifice one's own advantages if they violate the code. Morality means living in accord with a constellation of competing values such as truth, honesty, integrity, modesty, discipline, fairness, protecting the weak.... Without reference to religion, however, there is no objective moral code. There are only opinions about morality. Religion and only religion offers a transcendent objective code of right and wrong."

In bravely setting out your ideas on morals you're tackling one of the most fundamental and difficult problems of philosophy. Your list of virtues sounds good, but it would be very easy to show that NONE of them is a reliable guide to behaviour when particular circumstances have to be taken into account. Few of the famous monsters of the world - Hitler or Stalin, for instance - would have failed to pay lip service to your list. I agree that if one believes in a god who has indicated the difference between good and bad behaviour that is the end of the matter. However, there is such an array of religions, each with its own fierce adherents and individual code, that the choice of a particular religion is itself subjective, and so also is the code. I've written to you before supporting 'The Golden Rule' as a guide to right behaviour, itself supported by many great minds of the past, and not reliant on instructions written in some holy book. I also like what Jesus is supposed to have said to people he found about to stone to death a woman caught in adultery: 'Let him that is without sin cast the first stone.' Also, in another context, 'Don't point out the mote in someone else's eye before examining the beam in your own.'

Rumdar wrote: "buddy . After listening to dear old Des rattle on last night, have you ever thought of introducing Ian to your Dad? Send Ian a few of Des' tapes."

"Let's face it. Every Jew who can sing is in show business i.e., Barbra, Barry, Steve n' Edie and even Jews who can't sing (Dylan)."

Ian writes: "I couldn't let that go by without saying that, in my opinion, Bob Dylan, as a singer-poet and free spirit, is one of the great figures of the twentieth century. Of course, he can't really sing now (though he used to have a great voice), but to criticize him for it is like criticizing Shakespeare for poor diction."

Rumdar replies: Luke. There is no bigger Dylan fan than yours truly. I have been to many of his concerts from 1964 til last year when I caught him in H-town with Paul Simon. Even flew to Minn. to see him once (and visit a former Asian girlfriend) Ian like many moralists seems to be lacking a sense of humor. Please send him some of your Dad's tapes. It'll make Dylan seem like Pavarotti

Mike South writes: OK I have seen the whining nonsense written on tod's site by both Gloriosky and bed wetter supreme Michael (aren't his f---ing fifteen minutes over yet) Moore. Since Tod doesn't have the stomach for this it's yours. While I am a Gun Totin', Libertarian, Pornographer I have to try and educate the heathen out there. Whether you like the Supreme Court's decision or not it IS the correct decision.

Simply put, the Constitution requires that rules of an election cannot be changed after the election, the decision is very simple and very correct. Get it through your thick heads people we are NOT a f---ing Democracy, Democracy is a bad thing and our forefathers knew it, you want to see Democracy (Majority Rule) in action look at the South in the fifties and early sixties. The popular vote doesn't mean jack s--- and you can thank your lucky stars that it doesn't.

If it did only a handful of high population areas would get any political attention. AlGore could fly from Washington DC to Los Angeles and not fly over ONE SINGLE county that he carried. Matter of fact all he had to do was carry HIS HOME state of Tennesse and the little twit would be president. Anyone who thinks the Electoral College will be abolished or even changed is a bigger moron than Al and Gloriosky (Hey that's hard).

You see that requires a constitutional amendment and for those of you who attended public schools, that means that it has to be ratified by 3/4 of the states AFTER it passes the house and senate. Now California and New York WOULD LOVE this (after all theres about Half the popular vote right there) but the other states whose rights could be dictated by a very small geographical minority may not feel so good about the idea. In other words the electoral college ain't going anywhere.

Michael Jackson Denies He's Converting To Judaism

MICHAEL Jackson denies rumors he's converting to Judaism, but he's penned a piece in the Jewish Telegraph about the importance of the Sabbath. "There was one day a week that I was able to escape the stages of Hollywood and the crowds of the concert hall," wrote Jacko, now a close friend of "Kosher Sex" author Rabbi Shmuley Boteach. "That day was the Sabbath . . . When I became a father, my whole sense of God and the Sabbath was redefined. Every single day becomes the Sabbath. I speak to God through my children." Jackson was brought up as a Jehovah's Witness.

Concerned writes: Isn't homosexual child molestation against the Torah?

Luke F-rd Live

Listen here to tonight's Luke F-rd Live. Join James DiGiorgio, Kendra Jade and myself at www.webmasterlive.com from 4-6PM PST on Tuesdays. And join us in the chat room at www.thud.net, #6667.

For tonight's first hour, I talked about myself with JimmyD. Then in the second hour, we had Kendra Jade and Brandy Alexandre on.

I hear that Luciano of Extreme is dating Jewel DeNyle, ex-girlfriend of Peter North. Luciano was engaged to Jewel DeNyle who did porno and other sex work to pay her way through law school.

I talked to a porner the other day.

Porner: "You're right. The industry does attract the most dysfunctional people on earth."

Luke: "How do you think Gene's AVN attacks are coming across?"

Porner: "Everybody's reading it. Everybody's engrossed. They truly are. It's the first thing people do every day. But it doesn't matter much. It doesn't affect people's finances. People have always suspected these types of shenanigans at AVN but they play ball anyway. It's the industry's only trade magazine. People like it the way it is. I don't think Gene is going to get the mutiny against Paul Fishbein that he hopes for.

"Everybody's talking about Gene's new site. I'm sure he's getting quadrupled the traffic he first got when the site went online. But for what end? I understand he's pissed at AVN.

"I know Gene's a smart man. But he seems like Rob Black's pawn right now. He was the one guy Rob Black could get who knows all the information and knows how to dispense it.

"If Gene stays with Rob Black for the rest of his professional career, then no problem. But if anything goes wrong, I don't know where he's going to go now. I don't know if anybody else will hire him. So he must be pretty confident that Rob Black is on to something big.

"It's so funny that Paul won't let his employees work for other video companies because of a conflict of interest when Paul's business dealings are unending conflicts of interest.

"Everybody who owns a company is a millionaire. Fishbein's a millionaire. But these guys get weirded out when you ask for a decent salary, above $50,000 per annum.

"What about the outrageous amounts of money some of these crack mothers ask for scenes? Everyone wants a minimum of $800 a scene, even the really ugly girls.

"The quality of the girls hasn't changed in the last five years. Some are so ugly, you think, what are they thinking? Then there are some that look so wholesome, again you think, what are they thinking? Why do they want to do this? The ugly ones will end up in a Max Hardcore video and be completely degraded for four hours for $800. While a movie for the major companies like VCA, is primarily shot for cable. The girls barely have to have sex.

"I'm sure that when the web journalism industry stops being lucrative for you, you will walk into another viable area of income generation regardless of how much you like to dish dirt on porno."

Luke: "What will be the longterm implications of Gene's AVN revelations on AVN?"

Porner: "Porners will have it more on their mind this year that things might be fixed. But then, any year you go to the AVN Awards, people say it is fixed.

"In January 1999, Nic Cramer won Best Film of the Year for Looker. He couldn't even believe he was nominated."

Lynne writes : How petty and mean-spirited, coming from someone who pointed out that old men wanna go out with young women, and described it as eternal adolescence! Ugly women don't get discounts on their rent because they're ugly -- they need the same paychecks as everyone else.

I think the women get prettier every year...and Mike oughta see the ones that DON'T find work if he thinks the ones that do are ugly! Pornographers know that one man's ugly is another man's hottie, so try to use as wide a variety of women as possible. Why do the wholesome-looking ones want to do it?

Are we judging women by their exteriors? The wholesome-looking ones may not be wholesome inside but, even if they are, they also need a paycheck. Women don't anticipate their career in porn will be limited to the receiving end of Max Hardcore's speculum: they fantasize themselves as Jenna Jameson. Even the ugly ones.

What Does Gene Ross Want?

Lynne writes: Having done my own ranting and raving at AVN over the years for plenty of reasons, I have skipped reading Gene's. I'm just glad he found a way to vent all those years of frustration...musta been a considerable amount. Gene is indeed a smart man, knows everything there is to know about the porn industry, and would make anyone a valuable employee. Has anyone ever gone from an AVN job to future glory? Or are most deterred from any future involvement in the porn business? It will very interesting, for months to come, to see what does happen to both Gene & AVN (not that I read that, either...)