Entries Tagged 'Chicago adult entertainment' ↓

… The Scottsboro Boys” is based on a monstrous transgression of justice in Alabama in 1931, when nine young black men riding the rails were falsely accused of gang rape by two white prostitutes. The promising concept is to tell the story as a minstrel show. This once highly popular form of entertainment was, of course, also severely racist. Letting African-American characters appropriate it to tell a story of injustice could be seriously subversive. In Thompson’s hands, however, the conflict between the black performers, who want to tell the truth, and the white Interlocutor, who wants a traditional presentation, is underutilized, and Stroman’s direction compounds the problem by underplaying it. The writing for the two end men, who portray a gallery of racist power holders, is merely obvious rather than scabrously humorous. Most damaging, we don’t know why the story is being told. Nothing new is being said about the South’s racist history, at least not until that failed skin graft of an ending.

See the full article from “Back Stage”

CHICAGO – Mayor Richard Daley today said he will support Rep. Art Turner to succeed Scott Lee Cohen for the for the Democratic lieutenant governor nomination.
The mayor spoke after today’s city council meeting.
Daley said because Turner placed second in last month’s Democratic primary election, it makes sense to add him to the ticket.
Turner finished second to Cohen among six candidates.
Cohen withdrew after it was revealed he has been accused of abusive behavior, falling behind on support payments, and having a relationship with a prostitute.

See the full article from “WGNtv.com”

The Interlocutor introduces the classic minstrel show figures of Mr. Bones (Colman Domingo) and Mr. Tambo (Forrest McClendon), though the sassy thrust-and-parry associated with those archetypes is used only fitfully. Their chief job is to portray, with villainous leers, an assortment of corrupt white authority figures (lawyers, judges, guards). Even the boys’ eventual champion, the New York lawyer Samuel Leibowitz (Mr. McClendon), is also their callous exploiter.
In contrast the boys themselves are a fresh-faced lot, decent lads just out for a lark, riding the rails when they fall into horrendous trouble. (Their opening song is a gentle variation on all those wistful American hymns to train travel of the first half of the 20th century.) A rail-side fight among hobos in Scottsboro, Ala., brings the police, who discover two stowaway prostitutes, who in turn falsely accuse the nine youths of raping them. What follows are vignettes portraying the title characters’ trials and incarcerations, sometimes on death row.

See the full article from “New York Times”

Posted by John Byrne at 1:05 p.m.Mayor Richard Daley today threw his support behind state Rep. Art Turner for the Democratic lieutenant governor nomination vacated by troubled Chicago pawnbroker Scott Lee Cohen.The mayor said it makes sense to add the veteran lawmaker to the statewide ticket as Gov. Pat Quinn’s running mate because Turner came in second place in last month’s Democratic primary election. ”Well, like anything else, there’s only one winner for the lieutenant governor’s position, and that’s Turner, Art Turner, he won second,” Daley said while talking with reporters after the City Council meeting at City Hall. “If you run for public office and the person drops out before the election or even after the election, the person who was second moves automatically up. If you forfeit a game, you win the game.”
Turner finished second to Cohen among six candidates in the Feb. 2 primary. Cohen subsequently withdrew under pressure from Democratic leaders amid revelations that he has been accused of abusive behavior, falling behind on support payments, and having a relationship with a prostitute.

See the full article from “Chicago Tribune (blog)”

And yet, there was this confession earlier this week to a California radio station: “I am gay. Those are the words that have been so difficult for me for so long. But I am gay. But it is something that is personal and … I felt with my heart that being gay didn’t affect – wouldn’t affect – how I did my job.”
Nonetheless, in terms of national political implications, it’s not California, but the state of New York that’s earned its place in the political Hall of Shame in recent weeks.
In addition to Rangel’s and Massa’s troubles, Gov. David Paterson has become involved in a number of scandals encompassing corruption, obstruction of justice and perjury.
Paterson has been facing calls for his resignation ever since news emerged that one of his aides was involved in a domestic violence incident and that state police later pressured the alleged female victim to keep her mouth shut. Four Paterson officials have resigned in the wake of the revelations.
Paterson himself succeeded Eliot Spitzer, who resigned when his involvement in a prostitution ring was revealed.

See the full article from “Winnipeg Free Press”

Speaking at the Forum, Executive Director of the Bureau of Women’s Affairs, Mrs. Faith Webster, stated that HIV/AIDS was a gender issue, which requires an acknowledgement that there are sexed-based differences in infection rates and an understanding of the underlying causes and consequences of the disease.
Pointing to data showing that infection rate among women in the 10 to 19 age group triples that of males in the same age cohort, Mrs. Webster said that biology, sexual behaviour, social attitudes and pressures and economic power, all contribute to the spread of the disease among women.
“Women are also less able to negotiate safe sex, due to economic dependence and fear of violence and, therefore, more likely to contract HIV infection from men. Men tend to have riskier behaviour than women. This is evidenced through multiple sex partners, sex with prostitutes, casual sex, unprotected high-risk sex, use of crack cocaine and other drugs [and] same-sex behaviour among men,” she explained.

See the full article from “Government of Jamaica”

The England team’s boss Fabio Capello, early last week, took a hard precautionary measure by slapping a ban on players’ wives and girlfriends, known here as ‘WAGs’, aspiring to set up a base near their World Cup training camp, declaring glitzy Sun City – South Africa ’s answer to Las Vegas – as “strictly off limits” for these expensive women.
An estimated 5.7 million South Africans are living with HIV, with about 1,400 new HIV infections and nearly 1,000 Aids deaths every day.
With one-in-five rate of HIV/Aids among adults, South Africans have identified themselves the need to get more condoms in place, asking for British assistance.
The South African government estimates that up to half a million visitors could travel to the country, raising fears of a rise in prostitution and sex trafficking from neighbouring countries and eastern Europe, and creating a potential HIV time-bomb.
The UK intervention came on the heel of last week’s announcement by South Africa’s ‘Central Drug Authority (CDA), warning that 40,000 prostitutes were expected to arrive for the month-long tournament.

See the full article from “African Press Agency (subscription)”

… MYFOX NATIONAL) – British officials will spend millions of dollars on protection as up to half a million people travel to South Africa for the month-long soccer World Cup.
The New York Daily News reports that the money is to help prevent the spread of HIV. Officials’ concern is spurred by the news that 40,000 prostitutes are being sent for the soccer tournament.
South African President Jacob Zuma made the plea for help during a recent visit to meet the queen, according to The UK Guardian . Zuma said that fans would spill into neighboring countries with high HIV rates, leading to a greater need for precautions.
The Guardian states that the South African government estimates up to a half a million visitors could travel to the country. South Africa’s Central Drug Authority warned that 40,000 prostitutes will likely be among the visitors.

See the full article from “MyFox Spokane”

Locking up prostitutes will not stop the problem
…
As true as this may be, I think a more important reason is there aren’t enough obstacles to conducting the trade. It’s just too easy to be a prostitute.
I’m not suggesting that we incarcerate all prostitutes for 20 years, but slapping them on the wrist is not going to have any effect.
“Prostitution is a misdemeanor,” Leong said. “Girls get arrested and they are out same day … it’s a revolving door.”
But what incentive do we give a prostitute to quit her livelihood?
“Many cities use suppression (or) arrest to try to clean out prostitution, only to see sex workers relocate to other places or go underground,” said Bohsiu Wu, professor of sociology.
…
I disagree. If we want to eradicate prostitution in our city, or any city, we need a more insightful form of outreach.

See the full article from “StateHornet.com”

… Bughouse Square’ long revered as a sanctuary of that great American tradition, freedom of speech, recently has, for all practical purposes, become completely dominated by the Communist Party. The Communists in the last few months have monopolized the choice speaking places and hours…” before closing with, “…one hopes the influence of the National Socialists’ street preaching in Germany will not soon be forgotten.”
Soon the speakers dwindled. In time, they were replaced by winos and bums and Washington Square earned a reputation as a dangerous area and a place not to be visited after dark. The park also became a meeting point for homosexuals and also garnered the distinction as one of the city’s centers for prostitution. Adult movie theaters and book shops moved into the area. But in accordance to its liberal atmosphere and it’s acceptance of free speech, Chicago’s first ever Gay Pride Parade originated in the park 1970.

See the full article from “Gapers Block (blog)”