Home

Back to Essays



AIM Goes Down

AIM sent out this fax today: We have a serious chlamydia problem. The board of health is asking us to step up our reporting due to the current chlamydia epidemic in Los Angeles.

Many popular actors and actresses have been diagnosed with Chlamydia in the last month; and with one popular actor who works often; the potential for first and second generation exposures is 198 people in five days. We have LCR Urine Testing available now for $60.

AIM is moving downstairs to Suite 105 at 14241 Ventura Blvd. Free parking is available in the rear. Our new facility is Smokey Violet and has two exam rooms, private counseling offices, and a reception area. According to the zoing code, we have eight feet of the sidewalk, and we plan to have cafe talbes out front for coffee and healthcare chats this spring and summer. So come down for a "Papacino," (a pap smear and a cappucino).

For those who prefer not to use condoms, we have a "Liquid Condom" study going on. This intravaginal gel has a 99.9% kill-rate against Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, HIV, Hepatitis B, C, Syphilis and HPV.

Mike Ross Says

On April 22, Congressman Jerry Kleczka (D-WI) introduced The Independent Contractor Classification Act as HR 1525, bringing the issue of Independent Contractors (IC) before the US Congress. One thing is for sure, no matter what happens, this action is certain to alter the way Congress and the IRS views the issue and our overall operations.

After speaking with the office for about 20 minutes and reviewing 18 pages of material they faxed to me, this is what we have learned:  The Congressman hopes to "eliminate a burdensome and unworkable 20-factor common law criteria that employers now use to classify workers. In its place, the bill would provide an easy-to-understand three factor test.

Under the proposal, a person would be classified an individual contractor if: The employer does not control the manner in which the individual completes assigned tasks; The individual may solicit and undertake other business opportunities; The individual encounters entrepreneurial risk. Obviously, the concepts and language contained in the above paragraph, will tremendously affect the industry and your individual business, so it's imperative that you get involved.

The Act, cosponsored by Rep. Amo Houghton (R-NY), would vastly simplify and reform a long-standing regulation that causes confusion among employers resulting in workers losing benefits or workplace protections," the Congressman said in a press release. "The bipartisan support of this
bill can not be underestimated. This issue has been a bone of contention in Congress for over two decades."

According to the Congressman, "Because of the ambiguous guidelines, many business have misclassified workers, who have lost benefits and workplace protections like health insurance and worker's compensation, and that hurts employers who are put at an unfair disadvantage with competitors who misclassify their workers."

The bill's introduction was brought to our attention by Marla Green (CA - Fantasy Topless) who is also working with us on the IC issue here in CA. This bill is the perfect opportunity for us to organize and fight back. We want to represent the nation's club owners in the discussion of the issue
and will work with legal leaders to ensure that our voice is heard and reflected in specific amendments.

First Amendment Attorney John Weston testified before the CA Legislature on 4/27/99 regarding SB 1165, the proposed Prompt Judicial Review Bill. Simply put, the bill creates an expedited hearing process for judicial appeal of local administrative permitting actions which affect expressive conduct protected by the First Amendment. During his opposition presentation, Mr. Weston made several suggestions on how to make the bill better. John suggested that we expand the date a local administrative decision regarding the issuance, revocation, suspension or denial of a permit for activities involving expressive conduct must be brought from 7 days to 21 days, and the committee adopted the amendment.

Weston's next amendment was to limit the bill to apply the expedited review process only to denial of new permit applications, and not for suspension or revocation of existing permits. Weston stated: "There is no constitutional purpose to be reserved by extending the provisions of the bill to rulings which review the revocation or suspension of an existing First Amendment-type permit. The reason for that is that, as a constitutional matter, there may be no immediate enforcement of an administrative revocation or suspension order prior to Judicial review. This is because as far back as Freedman v. Maryland, the US Supreme Court expressly held that administrative agencies reviewing permits in the First Amendment area may not alter the status quo prior to judicial review of their actions."

After adopting the amendments, the committee adopted the bill and sent it to the full house. We'll continue to work with the Author's office to make additional amendments.

From www.davecummings.com

Legislators tell Porn Stars a Secret

Juli Ashton, Shayla LaVeaux, Nina Hartley, Midori, Johnni Black, Richard Pacheco, Juliet Anderson, Gloria Leonard, Dyanna Lauren, XXX, Kat Sunlove, Bobby Lilly, Mark Kernes, and many others of us met recently in Sacramento for legislative/free speech briefings, a Press Conference on the steps of the Capitol Building, and a full day of lobbying and meeting with legislators and/or their staffs. Though it was the California Legislature, the free speech guarantees of our Constitution applies to all citizens in EVERY State of the United States (and, of course, the freedom of citizens to have access to adult entertainment without intrusive governmental restrictions applies at the City government level as well). Without exception, every legislative office treated us with respect, dignity, and courtesy, as well as with genuine interest in our messages and opinions. I was gratified to note how many legislators seemed to realize that American citizens want ALL levels of government regulation out of their bedrooms; and, their recognition that there is indeed a powerful connection between the economic benefits of last year’s 670+ million adult video rentals and citizen (and, indeed "voter") demand for adult products and entertainment. We learned a "secret" from many of the officials, namely that they are willing to listen to ALL voters and citizens, not to just the very vocal tiny minority of voters who are against adult entertainment and who loudly and frequently voice their personal opinions to legislators---absent the voices of voters who want to continue having access to videos and adult entertainment, Legislators get a false and distorted impression from the small but noisy minority! If the citizens who watch adult films and patronize adult establishments want Legislators to consider there opinions, then those citizens MUST be voters! Little by little, rather than responding only to the views of the vocal/loud/tiny minority, legislators will more fully recognize and respond to the demands of ALL voters, including consumers of adult entertainment (who could vote out those legislators who impose restrictive laws upon the rights and freedoms of the citizen they represent)! The message is clear---that is, be a registered voter, and actually vote in each and every election; otherwise, the tiny but very vocal minority will continue to influence legislators adversely against the will of the normal citizens. If you value your freedom to watch videos and go to clubs, then you simply have got to be a Voter! Remember, sex between consenting adults is indeed normal, natural, and healthy! Don’t let local, state, or federal government officials be misled by the silence or shyness of the vast majority to be heard.

Competition For AVN

The folks who pay Luke the big bucks, www.fantasticonline.com are starting a trade magazine for the porn industry to compete with Adult Video News. Boss fella cvasiloff@fantasticonline.com writes: "Hiya Luke, Do you think we could get a porn star to write a piece for the XGEN magazine (stands for A Triple XXX Generation)? A sort of diary of a porn star?

What do you think? Rodger could edit it up and with a few pics might be great?

Also - I will be shooting a cover here this week but if you know any stars there that might want to get on the cover (it would be a totally "exposure" and no money deal) I have a photog down there that can do it. Let me know - A name on the cover might be good if we can swing it.

Jasmin St. Claire Phones

Jasmin: "Gene Ross helped me to go to Extreme Associates last June. I was in Gene's office one day and John Bone was meeting us to have lunch. Gene told me that Rob Black was trying to find me to make a deal with me. When I was in Gene's office, Gene picked up the phone and called Rob. Then he put me on the phone with Rob Black. Then a second later, John Bone came knocking on the door and I pretended I was speaking to someone else and I hung up on him.

"Gene told me, 'If I was your manager or agent, I would send you over to Extreme. That would be a good place for you to be.'

"In January, 1998, I was standing outside Gourmet Studios with Gene, Charley [Frey], John [Bowen], after my final gangbang. And John's exact words were, 'I'm going to f--- [AVN publisher] Paul Fishbein up the ass in October. I'm going to take Gene away from him.'

"I speak four or five different languages. My memory always serves me correctly.

"I wondered, how is he going to pay Gene? With what? Being that Gene [Ross] was on payroll, which I believe, maybe that's why Bowen couldn't pay me? Maybe that's why John couldn't afford to pay us and everything went downhill. Because it could also be a whole bribery thing going on. I'm sure. I haven't been checking up on your site but someone just called me and told me about all this stuff [on Gene Ross, AVN corruption].

"I'm happy at Extreme. Rob's checks don't bounce. He pays me every week. I just got home from a two week vacation in Mexico. I walked into Rob's office and I didn't even have to ask him for a check. With John, I always had to ask him, and feel bad. I'm sorry he [John] got in two car accidents..."

Luke: "Did you ever see any payoffs from John to Gene?"

Jasmin: "I'm not sure. I spoke to one of the girls' ex's... And he explained to me that John dropped the girl [Zoe] over at his [Gene's house] for the day. Her ex can verify this [Other reliable sources deny this]. Cassidy goes to dinner with Gene all the time, according to her. If you want to consider trading out girls as payoffs, then yes there were definitely payoffs. Gene has an interest in some of the [Cream] girls [like Zoe and Kendra].

"I heard stories about Kendra doing stuff with Gene. Honestly, I think it is gross. [Sources deny a Gene connection with either Kendra or Zoe.]

"With the wrestling, Gene took John's side with the whole thing. Gene claimed that I did not even show up to the ECW thing, which I did... I actually got in the ring and wrestled.

"John used Gene as a way of umm, 'AVN and the press is going to write about this if you f--- it up, blah blah...' He used Gene more as a friend and as a pawn for the girls, so that they would think, 'oh wow, he's friends with Gene Ross over at AVN. Wow, that might mean I'll get awards.'

"John's lunches with Gene were all about awards [and Cream never got any]. He would always say, 'Gene is going to help us get awards...' Honestly, all I think Gene helped him do is run up a lunch bill.

"I had asthma last year... I've been dealing with the death of my father. I don't deal with it very well. I'll probably never be able to deal with it. It's a very touchy issue with me.

"I like Paul Fishbein. From day one with John Bowen, I was taught that he was our enemy. I think he's nice and that he has a great business. From day one, T. Bone told me, 'when you see these guys on the sets [writers], you don't want to f--- them. Or treat them really nice. AVN is so political...' I got molded from that. Now that I am not with him [Bone], I have a lot more fun with the press and am more friendly with my coworkers.

"I just did a great scene with Luciano for Suitcase Pimps.

"Gene will deny everything because he has a job to keep. Your sources are reliable..."

Greg Zeboray Writes

Just read the letter written by the "anonymous" journalist, and don't subscribe to his views on most of the areas he touched upon. I do however, agree that the female talent are too easily convinced to do degrading scenes. What he misses though, is that the industry attracts so many new girls every day, that to make money and survive, they themselves have allowed this sort of activity to take place. The only way to stop the degrading scenes is for the talent to stand up and oppose it, and I reluctantly do not believe that will happen.

In regards to "men who run the business hating women", I don't necessarily agree with this either. I will go out a limb though, by saying my belief is that some of the men in the business probably did or do have shortcomings when it comes to relationships with women. A very close friend of a friend of mine (neither are related to the industry) dated one of the most popular male performers for a while, and finally gave up and left. She said that it was impossible, and that he himself admitted to her that he did not have a clue how to have a "real relationship". She felt, based on her experience, he was right on! Let's not forget the female talent, either - I have no doubt this same
principal applies to many of them! I also have no doubt, that there are some (female performers) out there that hate men.

Lynne L-patin writes: When we had to start putting our names on the boxes, as keeper of records, everyone tried to dodge it. Fake names, company names.... I was very impressed to see Russ Hampshire put his own name on the box right away. I'm not saying that feel the need to wear a t-shirt that says "I am a pornographer" (although anyone can buy one that says "porn star"). But I'm not going deny what I do, especially since I try so hard to make it good sex, at least for the performers.... Not when Russ has his name on millions of video boxes and I think I have to be at least as aboveboard as he is.

It's not that these guys hate women, they don't. They just don't want to have a civilized multi-gender environment. They want to be able to comment on the receptionist's butts and waste twenty minutes a day talking sports and just guy things... All that leaves with a professional women in your midst, especially in porno where so much of the interest in it seems to be generated by sick self-esteem.

It isn't good business to sacrifice profit so a bunch of buddies can pal together in the office, but that is what these environments can do. They become homogenous circles of yesmen, careful to support the same sports team and car models and the other s--- I think is absolutely irrelevant to a) work and b) making porno.

Russ Hampshire is smart enough to have women working for him. They don't constantly engage him in pissing contests and they work a lot harder than their male counterparts, especially when they have children to support. It's a pleasure to do business with VCA.