Monday, July 30th, 2001

Riot At Snoop Doggy Dogg Concert

A riot broke out at Snoop Doggy Dogg's Sunday night rap concert in San Diego. A black musician with a large black supporting cast, Dogg played at the porn webmaster celebration "The Players Ball" in June. Various porn webmasters attended the Dogg concert before 30,000 at the Coors ampitheater. A riot broke out between different black and minority gangs.

From the San Diego Union Tribune:

Rap artist Snoop Dogg turned in an abbreviated performance at Coors Amphitheatre following a disturbance that broke out shortly after his set began Sunday night.

During Snoop's performance, unidentified members of the audience began shouting at members of the artist's sizeable contingent of friends, performers and body guards who occupied the stage, Linney said. Most of the on-stage entourage were wearing blue colors, in apparent support of a gang.

A group of men wearing red, an opposing gang's colors, positioned themselves near the stage, according to Brian Murphy, a Union-Tribune publishing company employee who attended the show. Murphy said it appeared the audience members in red were upset by the show of colors. Hand signals were exchanged between the two groups, he said. One of the red-clad audience members tossed a red visor at Snoop, striking him in the chest.

You Did An Interview With My Mommy

From the World of Goddess site:

Dear Goddess, You did an interview with my mommy and suggested I say bad things about her behind her back. Now I'm afraid my mommy won't love me anymore! Anonymous

Dear Anonymous Ford, Whine, whine, whine. If the Tefillin fits, wear it. Now leave me alone. I'm ovulating and it takes all the mental concentration I have to release this egg!

Dear Goddess, Yesterday on Luke F-rd's page, Mike South referred to you as a "godless heathen." I thought you were friends. Did you have a fight? Anonymous

Dear Anonymous, Oh, please! The day Mike and I don't fight is the day hell freezes over. Besides, I thought his comment was funny. The only time Mike goes to church is when he learns there's a hot nun in the parish.

A Call To Action

Andrew Ferguson writes for the WeeklyStandard.com:

David Satcher, the surgeon general of the United States, held a press conference at the end of last month to issue a new report. Issuing reports is what surgeon generals do. Since his appointment by President Clinton in 1998, Dr. Satcher has released reports on mental health (in favor of it), women and smoking (strongly against smoking, strongly in favor of women), children and oral health (in favor of both equally), and suicide prevention (pro-prevention, anti-suicide). The report issued last month was titled The Surgeon General's Call to Action To Promote Sexual Health and Responsible Sexual Behavior. Such a large, grandiose title invites sweeping claims to be made on its behalf, and after Satcher had surveyed his report's findings about the social problems associated with sex, from unwanted pregnancies to sexually transmitted diseases, he made perhaps his most sweeping claim of all:

"We have created an environment"—he meant we as in us, Americans in the United States—"where there's almost a conspiracy of silence when it comes to sexuality."

Now, it is difficult to imagine how a statement could be more untrue. Americans started talking about sex pretty much constantly about 40 years ago and have yet to pause to take a breath.

Rather than engage in a national dialogue about sex—"mature and thoughtful," as the report puts it, "adult with adult, adult with child"—we could all agree to shut up about it for awhile. Who knows what might happen? Instead of being the squalid transmission belt for abortion and disease, which is what it has become over the last 40 years, sex could return to the status it enjoyed for millennia—a private matter, a sacred bond between caring adults, and the steaming source of resentment, cruelty, envy, and recrimination that God intended.

Stephanie Swift Does Not Escort

MrP writes on BigDoggie.net: I spoke with her directly a few weeks ago and she does not participate at all. Apparently money is not the issue. She was extremely sweet and very much a lady. I ended the coversation disappointed but with respect.

Objects Of Desire

Patrick Riley writes on RAME:

Producer/Director: Wesley Emerson Featuring: Inari Vachs, Brigette Kerkove, Brooklyn Rhodes, Nikki Fairchild, Mia Smiles, Tina Tyler, Ian Daniels, Colt Steele, Joel Lawrence, Nick East, Lee Stone, Kyle Stone

Lots of dialog here and it's somewhat intriguing probably because the story is not told in a linear fashion. In fact I'm not sure there even is a story but there's certainly characterization and the acting by Inari in the lead role is--hush my mouth--actually quite good.

It's the sort of movie that will have you thinking well after the movie's finished, asking yourself, "What was the relationship between Kyle and Inari?" or "What did Brooklyn eventually do about her baby?" or the big one, "What the hell was Joel supposed to be?" I don't know the answers to these questions and maybe it's a defect that they're not answered by the movie but it's no different than many mainstream movies and is a good technique for involving the viewer with what's happening on screen. Certainly it's a satisfying movie intellectually but sexually all except Inari and maybe Brooklyn are just padding.

The opener with Colt screwing Brigette (cantaloupes) occurs before the credits and seems to have been added just to raise the number of sex scenes. Similarly Mia's scene with Lee doesn't add anything. Like most plotted movies, less sex would have been a better choice.

Inari is attractive here to the point of not actually looking like Inari in the first scene; for the rest you have to consider them in relationship to Inari, so except for the filler who we could also do without on looks grounds, they all fulfill their roles adequately. The movie as a whole is recommended for the guy who wants some thought with his sex, and would probably be good for those few women who could be tempted to watch a porn for curiosity. Most raincoaters will hate it.

Inari seems to be a fashion photographer who is having sexual identity problems which she discusses with psychotherapist Joel. Or is she? And is he really a shrink? He's not like any I've ever heard of, forcing her to confront her fears and screwing her in a very dominant scene, and later in the movie the dialog suggests that he's her boy toy but then, jerking us back into another revision he seems to be the photographer and she seems to work for him.

Tina, looking overly butch, seems to be Inari's boss or maybe she's a client and she's concerned about Inari and the stresses of her job. No it doesn't devolve into a g/g but instead Tina, contrary to looks, tells how she's in love with another male who turns out to be Kyle but at the beginning we think that Kyle is Inari's live-in lover although they don't actually screw together.

Running in parallel to this is Brooklyn and Nick who have finally succeeded in conceiving and celebrate with a screw but later Brooklyn confides in fellow model, Mia, that she's worried that the child will look nothing like her. She recounts her surgical modifications which must be somewhat true to life as you can see Brooklyn in unadjusted form in {Filthy First Timers #18} where she has long straight black hair, small/medium droopy tits and is almost certainly parous. Now she's cantaloupe-equipped and has long blonde hair in ringlets. She exudes a feeling of friendly desperation which fits in nicely with the movie.

Brooklyn and Inari come together when Nikki and Brooklyn are modelling for Inari's camera and start an impromptu g/g but Inari, in keeping with her sexual identity difficulty, can't decide whether to join in. She does eventually but it's tentative and doesn't resolve her psychological issues. Later Inari tells of her love affair with a mythical "Albert" but although she wants to settle down with him she can't orgasm with him because he's not handsome like her models. But even aside from the question of physical looks she has flights of fancy (or perhaps real life) and will screw strangers such as Ian and hates herself afterwards. In the end Inari seems to accept the ambiguity of her sexuality and resigns herself to the status quo.

Price of Gay Porn vs Straight

Cindy Papa writes on RAME: Why is it that gay porn cost so much to purchase than straight porn? The local adult store sells gay porn tapes for $50-60-70 dollars, but the straight porn goes for $20-30. Does gay porn cost more to make? Do the models make more? Guess I don't understand why the price is so much different.

Spaceman replies: Those are standard prices here as well...we also sell the bondage stuff for $50-$60. We give everything the same markup (Double everything) so the store pays more for the Gay and Bondage stuff than the straight porn. Maybe it's a supply thing? There's got to be 5-10 times as much straight porn as the others. It stands to reason that costs would be higher for the less-frequently released tapes.

Tim Evanson writes on RAME: Gay porn stars are often paid much higher than their male counterparts in straight porn. The going rate for an average gay porn star is about $1,000 a film. That's average, remember. Stars who are not well-known, are known to be troublesome (egos, erection problems, "I'm so straight I can't stand it," drug problems, etc.), etc., can make less: I've heard of stars being paid as low as $300. (I think the lowest Joey Stefano was paid, when he was having the worst of his drug problems, was $300.) On the other hand, some stars make a LOT more than that! Ken "I wanna f--- women now" Ryker makes about $7,500-$10,000 per film. Kevin Williams was paid $20,000 to do three films. (I think he did only two, and far fewer scenes in his second film than he was contracted for.) Those are "super-star" prices. But A-list performers like Bobby Blake, Joey Hart, Karl Tanner, Alec Powers, Zach Richards, Chris Steele, Doug Jeffries, Jeremy Penn, Max Grand, Flex Gamble, Dean Coulter, Billy Brandt, Vince Rockland, Jeremy Tucker, Sam Dixon, Ceaser, etc. can make in the $2,000-5,000 range.

Sometimes, a performer is paid per-scene rather than per-film. Some of the more popular A-list stars (and even B-list stars) can work these deals. One A-minor list porn star told me that he was paid $750 per scene. But since he did two scenes, and then was asked to fill in on a third scene when the contracted performer failed to show up on the set, he earned $2,250 that day.

Some gay porn stars purposefully set their fees low in order to get more work. Max Grand has been quite open about the fact that he only got into gay porn because his escort business wasn't doing that well. Grand, a long-time prostitute, realized that getting into gay porn was the surest way to advertise his escort services. Grand makes a lot of movies, and for somewhat low fees, because he knows that he can hike his escort prices (and get far, far more escort appointments) when he's "out in front of the people" (i.e., in gay porn films) than if he simply advertised in "Frontiers" (Los Angeles' big gay newspaper with the massive escort ad section in the back). There is one gay porn star who is bisexual who keeps his per-scene fee down around $300 per scene. Why? Because he is a complete horn-dog, that's why. He wants sex about 4 or 5 times a day. The only way he can have so much sex is by constantly working in gay porn. He has quite an active sex life outside of porn, too. But porn is one way he can fill his weekends with lots of sex (as many as 10 sex scenes a weekend). He's not in porn for the money, but for the sex. (Reminds one of Al Parker...)

BUT:

The price of gay porn films is contingent upon a lot of other factors than production costs and porn star salaries.

For one thing, many video store owners know absolutely nothing about gay porn. After all, the vast majority of video store owners are heterosexual. They rely solely on AVN (and that's no lie) for information about which gay porn films will sell and rent well. In a market with such an information-asymmetry, sellers have a strong incentive to price their products as high as they can. (Notice that, on-line, you'll find the prices for gay porn are much, much lower. That's because the amount of information available to the self-interested buyer -- who is probably gay or bisexual, is interested in gay porn, and has the incentive to stay informed about which studios and actors and directors are "good" -- is much greater. Without that information asymmetry, the market functions much better. And prices come down.) And buyers (video stores) really will have no idea if the $70 price for Bel Ami's latest release is high or low or a good price for the quality of the film. Even Karen Dior's latest piece of s--- from Bacchus Releasing will sell for $20 -- when it's probably worth about 5 cents.

Also, there is much less competition between gay porn studios than there is among straight porn studios. Keeping track of which straight porn studios are out there is a monumental task! Directors move from studio to studio constantly. Reading AVN is like reading a soap opera -- this guy slugged that studio owner, this performer moved behind the camera and then did a film for another studio and then directed a film for yet a third studio, this director works for two studios and then formed three of his own production houses before abandoning one and breaking up a second after a fight with the co-owner and then formed a fourth in spite, etc. Why all this drama? It isn't because straight porn people are a bunch of drama queens. :) It's because there is such a huge, hungry market for straight porn. With barriers to entry being low (anyone can buy a video camera and cheapo editing software and make a film), it encourages entry into the market. In gay porn, however, the market is much smaller. (One in ten, anyone?) The available talent pool is much smaller. Barriers to entry (cost of videocam, etc.) may be low, but the market (supply of talent, demand for films) is smaller. Hence, competition is less fierce. With a dysfunctional market like that, prices rise.

Gay porn also suffers/is lucky to have a real brand-name market, too. Falcon, for example, has been around for almost 30 years. Has any straight porn studio been around so long? Falcon has a real brand-name, and buyers without much information often rely on this brand-name as a proxy ("the Falcon name means quality"). Studios like Bel Ami and All Worlds have also been able to build brand-names (Bel Ami has been far more successful at it than All Worlds, though). It's not that the products are really that different. Good sex is good sex. And it's that brand-names can be proxies for "quality."

And brand names serve another purpose as well. Consider the example of the blue-jeans market: Levi's jeans are made of the same denim and same thread, and are the same size, and have the same stitching (relatively) than a pair of Calvin Klein jeans do. But Calvin's cost $90, while Levi's cost $25. Why? Because you're buying a brand name. Because you're buying "image" when you buy CK, and not buying image when you buy Levi's. Because "lifestyle" is something people want, and the "lifestyle" they buy when they put on CKs is different than the "lifestyle" they buy when they put on a pair of Levi's. Ditto with Falcon, Odyssey, All Worlds, etc. Falcon represents a different lifestyle, attitude, fantasy world, etc. than does All Worlds.....or even Bel Ami. Jeremy "I'm being f---ed by David Geffen these days" Penn really isn't that different looking or acting than a Bel Ami model. Karl Tanner has worked for both studios! Buddy Jones has been a model for the tony (and high-priced) Kristen Bjorn as well as for a bunch of other models. He's not changed his looks, his dick size, his sexual abilities. But sometimes his videos cost a lot, and sometimes not, and often it depends on which studio he's working for (i.e., brand). And brand-name can fool video store owners, too. After all, when they have little information about the quality of the product they're buying (straight store owners probably don't watch much gay porn!), and they see consumers purchasing Mustang more than they're purchasing All Worlds (even when the product doesn't vary that much), brand-name becomes a proxy for "quality" for store owners as well.

Brand-name pricing occurs online as well. Frat House Boys tapes sell for exhorbitant prices, solely on the fact that the videos feature guys of one particular look, the performers are almost invariably "straight" (yeah, right), and the tapes feature sex that you know will always be the same. It's the McDonald's principle; except in this case, they're selling steak, not Big Macs. (Think McCormick & Schmick's, I guess.) Citiboyz tapes sell for the same reason. (Indeed, Citiboyz models are so popular, they routinely appear in gay porn magazines like "Inches," "Mandate," "Freshmen" and "Playguy.")

Lastly, there's just the pure profit to be made. Let me provide an example that's a couple years old: I once knew a video store owner who told me about his price structure. Falcon films sell for $70. But the film probably only costs Falcon $10 to produce, manufacture and distribute. If you order direct from Falcon, Falcon will make $60 in pure profit! (Imagine how much money Falcon is making. If the film is only a moderate success and sells 2,500 copies, the studio just raked in $150,000.) When Falcon sells to retailers, it often sells that $70 video to the retailer for about $35. Falcon also requires store owners to sell the video for no less than $50. This means Falcon is guaranteed their $35 (with $25 in pure profit). The retailer is guaranteed $15 in sales (and the lower the retailer's costs, the more profit they can get out of that $15). Falcon goods won't be "undersold" (i.e., the brand-name devalued or cheapened!). (And since Falcon keeps videos in "direct mail only" status -- you can only buy from Falcon itself during this time -- for as long as 3 months before allowing retailers to sell the video, Falcon often reaps a LOT of profit at that high $70 price.)

Other studios work the same way. An All Worlds tape that usually sells for $25 might only cost All Worlds $7 to produce, manufacture and distribute. When sold direct from All Worlds, the studio rakes in $18 in pure profit. All Worlds might sell the tape for $12 to a retailer, guaranteeing itself a $5 profit. And the retailer can sell the tape for $17.95, pulling in $7.95 (from which it deducts costs to earn profits). And from a consumer's point of view, IT SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wish Falcon tapes sold for $20! I wish I could find good gay porn films selling in bargain bins for $10. (You can find gay porn tapes selling for $10 all right. But they aren't any good!) I wish Bel Ami tapes sold of their old, early-90s prices rather than their new, '01 prices. I wonder what German gay porn or French gay porn sells for new in their respective countries. And is there any gay porn coming out of Poland yet?

Luke Gets Mail

Ian writes: Hi Luke, I was fascinated by your report on Ms Jennifer Steele that she spoke 'Asian' as well as Greek, Russian and French. Since there must be well over a hundred languages in Asia, I assume that 'Asian' actually refers to some kind of sexual practice, just as 'French' and 'Greek' do. What could that practice be, and what does 'Russian' mean in this context?

Luke says: For a glossary of terms, click here.

Frank writes: I'm a young guy, 30. Looking to get involved in business. I have no experience with entertainment/media. I was thinking about looking to see how much Mr. Spallone's company charges for shoots. How does this work? After a shoot one has to sell it/market it to some other company? About how much, roughly, do these shoots cost the buyer? 10K? (How much would I have to come up with?) Sounds pretty easy...just have to find a buyer...What are your thoughts on this? I would never ever do the production-I'm clueless, leave that for the experts...Is this a shady business to be in?

Luke says: Almost nobody shoots first and then tries to sell their product later. The business doesn't work that way. It's almost impossible to make money that way. Instead, producers like Rob Spallone develop contacts within the industry. Eventually different companies will hire folks like Rob to bring in a movie for anywhere from $7000-$50,000. And yes, it is a shady business to be in.

Bridgette Kerkove writes Galactic Galaxina: Dear Galactic Galaxina, thank you so very much for the compliment. I am sorry you have been going through some "rough times", things will get better for you. have a good day, love, BRIDGETTE KERKOVE xoxoxo

Gilles writes: Some years ago I discovered the existence of the World Modeling Agency but didn't have any contact and didn't know your site either so, I e-mailed or sent letters to many porn stars and never received any help until by pure luck (2 months of trying) I found the e-mail address of Asia Carrera. In less than 24 hrs, I had the answer. Recently, I was looking for a web site where they gives the rating (hits per day) from different web sites. Again, I e-mailed many persons (cough) without success until again I decided to try my luck with her.I've not been disappointed. In less than 24 hrs, her answer was there like a gift. I never met her, she don't know me, but she helped me gracefully. She's no ordinary porn star, she's a gem.

Frank Rich writes Luke: The sad truth is that your web site is not as culturally significant as you think it is, but merely serves as a venue for wankers to learn about their favorite hankie-bait. Very few civilians read your web site in a given week.

Howie (skater69@att.net) writes: Hi Luke, I appreciate the information you provide on your site on a daily basis. You mentioned in July 30th's post (and this has been said before) that you never pay to shoot something and then try to sell it. That's not the way the business works.

I'm in Washington DC and I have paid models and have made an amateur (Ed Powers like) video with the girls introducing themselves, stripping, and eventually having oral/and or regular sex with me. It didn't cost me much so far to shoot it and I had fun doing it. I truly enjoy the gonzo, amateur, young debutante (the less script/plot the better) format. I would like to do something with the tape to possibly get in video stores. I'm not clear on what my next step is. Do I shop my tape to distributors now? I know I sound very green but I don't know exactly what inserts are required in my video (copywright page...etc) to have it ready for sale. Any advice or help on the subject is appreciated. And in any case, is it possible someone like me get a budget up front to shoot girls and if so, how should I go about it?

About me: I'm a 31yr old male, good looking and in shape. I enjoy the intimate shoots with just myself and the model. Most times I shoot I hold the camera or have it set up very close. I don't think I'm made for doing girls with lots of people watching.....maybe just a camera person.

Special Edition Of l-keford.com

From sundown Saturday to sundown Sunday is the saddest day of the Jewish calendar (Tishu B'Av) when we mourn the many disasters of Jewish history, from the destruction of the two temples (2600 and 2100 years ago) to the Holocaust. But the Jewish way to learn from these events is not to blame non-Jews but to look within our own behavior to see what we've done to cause our own destruction. This is a timeless approach yielding benefit to Jew and non-jew alike who will listen. Listen here. And here.

Jews observe Tishu B'Av in different ways. For instance, I spent it with two quasi-religious Jews in my apartment. The son of a famous Orthodox psychologist and author, he was a graduate of Yeshiva University in New York and Hebrew University in Jerusalem. And he pants to get into the porn industry. His friend is a tall beautiful writer for the Jewish Journal. She wore a short skirt and her legs extended across the length of my hovel. She attends a Conservative yeshiva in Jerusalem and is working on a book about the Biblical book of Genesis. For four hours we discussed pornography and life. Then I spent the last three hours of the fast at shul, wondering whether people's lack of greetings to me were because of the Jewish Law against greeting people on this day, or because they knew about l-keford.com. If anyone is ever less than effusive towards me, I figure it's because they're disgusted by my web site.

It is beginning to dawn on me that l-keford.com is not the best place for me to present my ideas. Porn by its nature appeals not to men of action, but to the passive and the meek.

Scott writes: Luke,I will use Tishu B'av to reflect on the Jewish tragedy of you being banished from your beloved Shul. Hopefully this did not cause you to become a wandering Jew with tellifin robbed from the grave (though your porno tour is pretty close to that). Other Jewish tragedies to mourn: Reuben Sturman's greed, Ron Jeremy's body hair.

Lynne L-patin responds: "Ron Vogel shot my all time favorite set in 1986 of which, again I'm assuming, only a handful of the pictures taken were ever published. How might I discover if these pics are still extant?"

The remaining chromes from the set are owned by the company which commissioned the shoot, and they might still be held by that company. Some companies sold their excess original chromes to magazines or various advertisers who needed stills, but most made copies and sold the copies.

There's a fellow working for VCX named James Sullivan who has an encyclopedic knowledge of old photo shoots. He might be able to help. Thing is that, even though you would probably pay for copies to be made of the chromes, the video company won't want to go through the hassle of looking them up. We don't treasure our history in porn...it was supposed to be a fly-by-night temporary thing.

Tony/Toby Dammit sez hello. He finds you a real hoot, but understands why I need you. You must know how you are hurting me. You are maybe taking pleasure in it? Everything else on this trip is being accomplished nicely. I am strong and happy. I feel so bad for you. It is sad that the temple is destroyed It is sad that a woman should be treated badly and have her "soul flattened'" for no reason at all. The difference between "pushy" and perseverance? In the eye of the beholder? The gender of the one persevering? I hear the glorious laughter of the woman Jef lives with and wish you could have that ringing through your home... You only deprive yourself, dear, when you behave badly towards me. You deprive me of sustenance. You deprive yourself of the strength and love I generate when I am stronger, happier. I have not yet lost faith...some evil dark cloud has settled inside you and I will fight it with every weapon at my disposal.

Amalek Presents the Final Solution to the Tsores in the MidEast

Special "Ninth of Av" Edition (exclusive to the Juden of l-keford.com)

I see that our muslim cousins are tossing stones down onto the heads of some jews at the Western Wall. Honestly, is not the presence of a jew at that site itself a provocation? Given the ubiquitousness of the All-Mighty, why MUST they pray there, when there are so many fine shuls on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and in the Hamptons that want for congregants? All of the tsores the jews have in the mideast would come to an abrupt end if only the jews would follow the example set by their Rhodesian and South African brothers.

Fred writes: The basic problem with Dr. David Myer's thesis is this. The "occupation" is not the big problem. The Palestinians are most adament about sovereignty over all of Jerusalem and the so-called "right of return". During the negotiations with Barak, they did not insist on the Israelis giving up the settlements. The right of return, of course, means that the Jewish population is demographically swamped and the state of Israel comes to an end. In other words, all this nonsense about the "occupation" is simply a red herring insofar as the Palestinian bargaining positions have been concerned.

Chaim replies: Luke, this is EXACTLY the sort of argument that racially conscious white people should be making on their own behalf. Zionism can be our Zitadel against the brown tide of multiculturalism.

Well then Fred, do you concede that a nation's racial majority has the moral right to configure its immigration laws to help maintain that racial majority?

Fred replies: "In this specific instance, yes."

Chaim replies: The question is not directed to "this specific instance", but as a general proposition having broad applicability: does a nation's racial majority have the moral right to configure its immigration laws to help maintain that racial majority? Why limit your acceptance of tribal homogeneity to Israel, except because it is the Jewish state and you are a Jew?

Luke, the next time you have a discussion with one of those fancy jews, ask him the question that I have presented to Fred regarding immigration.

Fred writes: Acceptance of tribal homogeneity in Israel is based on the unique history of the Jewish people among the goyim. The state exists for specific historical reasons related to the consistent antisemitism among the goyim. This is not a mere matter of my being Jewish.

I also don't mind pointing out that unregulated Palestinian immigration into Israel would create a security problem, to say the least.

As for whether other nations have a right to manipulate their immigration laws in this manner, it requires further thought and I am undecided. I suspect that the rule may be different for some nations vs. others. For example, I note that Korea is essentially completely Korean and Japan is almost completely Japanese. It might be more morally acceptable in that situation than a situation in which a nation already has a multi-ethnic population. For a multi-ethnic nation, controlling the immigration laws might be linked to one of the ethnic groups being politically ascendent, and using the immigration laws as part of the means to assert political control.

I also point out that it is generally believed (and probably true) that American immigrants will come to embrace a belief in America's political and economic culture (e.g. democracy, freedom of speech, free markets, etc.) regardless of whether they ultimately become Protestant.

An Israel rapidly swamped with Palestinians is no more likely to remain a free market democracy than, say, Syria. (Note the political culture within the Palestinian Authority.) When it comes to immigration policy, no nation is willing to be rapidly swamped, including the United States.

HIV Testing

Nicole London writes: Hello Luke. I would like to take a moment and address an issue that I feel is becoming a daily issue between Talent, Directors, and Producers. I don't quite understand why it is, in an Adult Industry that Adults can not be responsible enough to show up with a current test. I for one am baffled by this issue, why is it so hard for some to get there test on time? It is also not the responsibility of the Clinic to have to fax your test to the set. There are many wonderful and responsible actors and actresses that show up on set with there paperwork in order, the ones that don't waste much of our time and production money, while we wait to replace you. Do you feel that this is fair to your co-workers and the crew that has been there all day making one forth of what your making? I for one have come to the conclusion that if you show up on set without a current test, not only will you be sent home but, you will never work for me again. My hat goes off to the talent that are professional and responsible enough. Maybe if enough directors and producers did the same, you may one day figure this out.

Extreme Associates Going Under?

Esad2001 writes: Fer sure, Extreme'z bouncin' checks them old checks cause they can't pay the billz. and they know they're bouncin' them old checkz. i went there and there were practically a line of people waitin' fer there checks with the accountant hiding in the back like a wee little girlie. why do you think their chicks are the bottom of the bottom? big names won't work there ever. things are changin' there, fer sure. they practically ain't got s--- no more. no talents, people, titles. they're turnin' into crap. and they rip everybody. after fishbein ripped rob black a new asshole in court, they can't pay nothing. mark my words, wrestlers will be leaving. talent will be leaving. employees will be leaving. their webmasters will be leaving. and they ain't gonna have s--- to show except their pathetic attitude. watch what happens within the next several months. that's cause they try to use and abuse anybody that gets in there way. funny thing is, if the local cops or the feds go after them, the legal fees will be the end of extreme. they can't pay their bills now. how the f--- they gonna handle another court battle? their badboy attitude is a coverup for their sorry business loss.

Luke says: I understand that Rob Black and Extreme settled with Paul Fishbein and AVN months ago, paying AVN every penny they owed, including AVN's legal fees.

Italion Stallion says: Esad is Rob Black. Someone close to Rob has taken the time to edit and omit the vile and slang langauge so you don't have to.

Planet Of The Porners

Frank writes: Go see "Planet of the Apes" and ask yourself what the world would be like if Porners (jewish/italian/other?) ran the world.

Alisha Klass Update

Porn star Alisha Klass writes: Luke, Sorry I didn't respond to your e-mail sooner, but I've been on vacation. I saw what was posted on your site about my show being canceled, but I can assure you as always that came from one persons bad intentions. Playboy is casting for another show, but not to replace mine. Perhaps I should forward you the public responses that Playboy receives on my behalf. I'm not going to say much more, but "Inside Adult" is definitely adored by the viewers and the talent that have been guest on my show. Isn't obvious who wrote this rumor to you? Who do you think would end their note with a comment like now she can get out of adult industry for good and go do her nude, non-speaking parts in feature film? Or how ever it was put. For that persons information, since I stopped acting in adult films exactly one year ago this month, I have not gone to one audition. I'm not trying to be a mainstream actress. I'm not studying acting at UCLA.

I've completed my directing course, screen writing and nonfiction writing! I am speaking to ICM in New York regarding my book deal. So there you have it. I love the adult industry and I'm carrying it with me everywhere I go and extending my experiences in my monthly "Club Confidential" column called "Assk Alisha," where I continue to pleasure my ass and stand for hard core sex and the adult industry. I get naked and nasty with my guest on "Inside Adult" and I love it. I've also just been hired to host a two hour pay-per-view show called "The Alisha Klass Sleep Over Party," which I created and it will air monthly. So, excluding adult I am not! Standing for what I believe, I do! I'm closer now to the adult talent more then ever and I will always, always be involved in the adult industry. The only thing I've stopped in my life is doing adult movies with someone who hurt me. Other than that again, I'm more involved then ever! I hope you're well Luke! I will definitely see if you can cover the first pay-per-view show and after party with the hottest porn stars! Let's just say you're going to see five of the most hard-core sex scenes ever!

Alec Metro Responds To Mark Wahlberg

Alec Metro left this message on my answer machine: "I want to insult Marky Mark aka Mark Wahlberg.

"I found an interview today with Marky Mark or whatever his little short-ass name is. The question was, 'I heard you debated over doing Boogie Nights?'

"His answer was, 'I was worred about the subject matter and how it would affect my career.'

"For one, the subject matter made you famous, all 5'2" of you. And probably the two inch part of you was obviously prosthetics because you couldn't match who you were trying to portray in the movie. But now that you see that the subject matter made you famous, stop putting us down. Any man who talks like that, and alread has a career, and talks about the subject matter of porn being bad, is a fag and an in-the-closet liar.

"Porn is an evil necessity. We all watch it. And I think you're a smug short little man.

"I remember meeting you at a night club and thanking you for the good job you did representing the movie. My mistake. He looked at me like I was saying something stupid to him.

"So from Alec Metro to you, and your fag-ass interviews, even though you are way more successful than I will ever be, and you're way more famous than I'll ever be, I think you're a smug little fag. And the next time I see you at a club, with some nasty girl that you're hanging out with, you don't even have any good taste in girls, I'm going to insult your short little ass to everybody.

"I think you're rude. I don't like you describing my industry as a subject matter to be put down. Overall, porn is up 50% in production and Hollywood is down seven percent. Because you guys are not loyal enough to stay in Hollywood. You go to shoot where it is cheaper. We constantly work and all you union guys beg us for work because it is steady. So stop putting us down and represent your own industry in your own way.

"And I hope you write back because I really want to hear what you have to say. Or anyone that knows you.

"And as far as porn is concerned, all that you could do to survive was to do underwear ads for Calvin Klein. What do you think that was? Do you think you were selling your face? You look like a monkey. The only thing you have is a nice body and you used it to sell Calvin Klein underwear. So shut up homo."

Chaud writes: Dear Mr. Ford, regarding Alec Metro's comments about Markie Mark, I heard that Mark is dating Cheyenne Silver. I am shocked that those kind of comments about the adult industry since he is dating a porn actress.

Alan writes: As crappy as "Planet of The Apes" may be, Alec Metro's rather ineloquent attack on Mark Wahlberg is an embarassment. Yeah, it really looks good to the porn community when some idiot starts flexing his verbal muscles against some actor who makes a perfectly reasonable statement as to the controversial nature of the porn genre. Yeah, I'm sure we all think Alec is a tough guy taking on Marky Mark. What an ego!

And what is this with calling Mark a "fag-ass" and a "homo?" This, coming from a guy who seems gayer than Eric Price, and is about half as masculine. This, from a dude who states that Mark has a "nice body." What a hypocrite! Even "Hustler Erotic Video Guide" has seriously questioned Alec's sexual preferences! The porn industry has a useless spokesperson in the form of Mr. Metro.

Jason Sechrest from JasonCurious.com writes: Jason Sechrest of JasonCurious.com writes: Alec Metro, my man! Dude, I love you soooo much! You are DA MAN. But what on Earth would possess you to call Luke F-rd's machine and have him post a Mark Wahlberg bashing? I just read your post and feel like I must be missing something here.

First of all, according to you, the only thing Mark said in this interview was: "I was afraid of the subject matter and how it might affect my career." I don't know how exactly you interpreted this statement, but I think you may be jumping the gun (and maybe...just maybe... flying a little off the handle while you're at it). You have to remember that at the time our Mr. Wahlberg was offered the role in "Boogie Nights," he was still trying to make the transition in the public's eyes from an underwear model to a serious actor. He did not want any role that was going to have him parading around in his undies, much less playing a character that was sexually explicit in nature. I don't think he meant the above quote as a diss to the adult industry at all. He was probably just worried that "Boogie Nights" would keep people focused on his body/sexuality and not his acting abilities.

However, let's give your theory the benefit of the doubt. Maybe what Mark really meant was, "The adult industry sucks. Those people are scum." Well, the fact of the matter remains, he did the movie! So obviously, whatever fears he may have had initially were later rejected. He didn't turn down the role, Alec. If he had any qualms about it in the beginning, he eventually DID realize he was being stupid and got over it!

I'm sorry Mark was mean to you in a club. That's just wrong. And I'm sorry that you don't like his taste women. But I'm even sorrier for the fact that a person as naturally warm-hearted, generous, and kind as yourself would feel the need to throw the words "fag" and "homo" around to bash a person you do not even know in an attempt to get some pent up angst over this actor out to the masses. Speaking of which, if you really wanted to reach the masses, or Mark himself, why not write a letter to The National Enquierer? I would be interested to see if they'd print it. After all, you are a celebrity yourself!

Personally, I am inspired by Mark as someone who has broken down every barrier and fought every obstacle to become the success that he is today. Here's a man who goes from a dysfunctional family life to becoming a gang member and drug dealer who lives on the streets. Everyone in his life looks at him and says, "Oh he'll never amount to anything more than that." Pulls his ass out of the gutter long, not to mention his drug-induced state, just long enough to land a job as a Calvin Klein model, only to be ridiculed by industry critcs saying, "Oh, he'll never amount to more than that." Then came the rap act, The Funky Bunch, and again the same criticism, "Oh, he'll never amount to more than that." Well... surprise! Marky Mark grew up and he is now so much "more than that." He is quite possibly the most underestimated actor in Hollywood. (Vanity Fair seems to think so too! Check out this month's cover.) And apparently, a lot of people are jealous. I'm inspired by people who beat the odds. It's not a story unlike your own, Alec. You don't come from a Brady Bunch background either, but you have beat the odds and you've made a success of yourself. You're an actor, regardless of what form that art may take. Not only that, but your status has also been elevated to that of a director these days!

So yes, I am inspired by a story like yours as well. Remember that some of us out there ARE inspired by you and maybe you won't feel the need to have little outbursts like these anymore. Or more importantly, become inspired by YOURSELF. When you hate you, you tend to hate everyone else too. So no offense. You know I love ya man... but obviously if you were inspired enough about this man (which is a little eh... let's just say "weird" in and of itself) to get a posting on Luke F-rd's site about it, you are open to, if not looking to, debate this subject with someone. SO... glad I could be here for you! ;-}~

P.S.: You are too smart and too good a person to be using words like "fag" and "homo" to beat somebody down. I don't want to hear those words again unless we're both naked with your hands around my throat, and you spitting into my mouth while you call me that. Respect!