When Is A Pole A Theatrical Prop?

When I write the blog entry I often have no idea what will come out of my brain. Today the national news provided two items. 

They may never be confused with "Swan Lake," but an upstate New York strip club says its nude lap dances are every bit as much an art form and should be exempt from state taxes.

So far, the state tax department and an appeals court disagree and want the Nite Moves club in Albany to pay up $124,000 it says it owes taxes.

Nite Moves claims the dances are exempt under state tax law as "live dramatic or musical arts performances." The exemption also applies to theater or ballet. The club is relying on testimony from a cultural anthropologist who has studied exotic dance and visited Nite Moves.

.....The anthropologist was at the club for several months doing research. "I'm still not sure. At this point in time my findings are inconclusive, he said. I may need more time to discern the origins of the dance moves. Although I think, at this point in time, it is safe to say these ladies are quite athletic." 

.....The paid witness for the defense is currently unemployed and his wife has moved out and filed for divorce. "Ever since he started hanging around that strip club he very rarely comes home before 2AM. The occasional night he is here his nose is buried in books and magazines. And, I don't care what he says, I will not help his work and slide down the banisters wearing next to nothing. He even wants to put a pole in the garage and I said, no f-ing way." 

I'm a grown man who has been in a 'Gentleman's Club' a time or two. I would much rather watch an 'exotic' dance than ballet, just sayin' is all.

However, pole dancing "an art form?" An administrative law judge said, "the fact that the dancers remove all or part of their costume simply does not render such dance routines as something less than choreographed performances." 

After the tour of the strip club how about we take in "The Nutcracker?"

Remember the Alan Funt movie from 1971, "What Do You Say To A Naked Lady?" ......in this case, how about, how much?

Sliding up and down a pole, regardless of where and what it is, should not be classified as performance art. And, like waitstaff, tips should be taxed. 

That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it.

A ruling ordering Massachusetts prison officials to provide sex-reassignment surgery to an inmate is being praised by advocates as important recognition that the surgery is a legitimate treatment for gender-identity disorder, even as critics including Sen. Scott Brown call it "an outrageous abuse of taxpayer dollars."

U.S. District Judge Mark Wolf ruled Tuesday in the case of Michelle Kosilek, a transgender inmate serving life in prison for murder. Wolf said the Department of Correction must provide the taxpayer-funded surgery because it is the only way to treat Kosilek's "serious medical need."

Kosilek was born male but has received hormone treatments and now lives as a woman in an all-male prison. Kosilek was named Robert when married to Cheryl Kosilek and convicted of murdering her in 1990.

While courts around the country have found that prisons must evaluate transgender inmates to determine their health care needs, most have ordered hormone treatments and psychotherapy. Wolf is the first judge to actually order sex reassignment surgery as a remedy to gender-identity disorder.

"It's great to see a judge recognize that transition-related health care is medically necessary health care and that transgender prisoners are entitled to the same health care that other folks who are incarcerated receive," said Kristina Wertz, director of policy and programs at the Transgender Law Center in San Francisco.

This goes on to become a "we should because" and a "we should not because" very long story.

Last week I read something about the vice presidential nominee. I thought it very interesting and wanted to share it on Face book. While I was trying to figure out how to do it I mistakenly uploaded the entire article. Soon after someone wrote, to me; "Do me a favor and keep politics off of here." I knew this person and he may have thought twice about his comment because it was quickly deleted. However, I already had the e mail notification.

Deleted or not, my first reaction was, "screw you and the horse you rode in on." Who are you to tell me what I can or can not, should or should not post on a public forum? This brings me to the blog, it's mine and I can write what I want.

Old song, "It's My Life and I Will Do What I Want." 1965 The Animals

Remember The Animals? Great name for a rock group. Later they became Eric Burdon and the Animals. He was lead singer and head animal.

It's a hard world to get a break in, all the good things have been taken, But girl there are ways to make certain things pay, Though I'm dressed in rags, I'll wear sable, some day.

.....again with the pole dancing? By the way, sable, sable fish, or black cod is a very popular smoked fish. Please pass the bagels.

Sorry for mind wandering. I think a man that was a man when he murdered a woman should stay a man. He tried self castration once. He was so upset and miserable as a man he twice attempted suicide. 

Give the guy a rusty spoon, a strong rope and a foot stool.

Aren't you glad you stopped in to read the funny blog today?

This morning the Wii Fit said my body was in great shape. I was, according to it, 27. Excuse me a second, ha ha ha ha ha ha ha, ya right! 

I have lost seven or eight pounds recently and I'm happy about that. The reason for the weight loss is the upcoming cruise. The food, while always delicious and plentiful I can take or leave. The desserts are the reason I walk through the buffet eleven or twelve times a day.

Oh, just look at this stylish jacket I was wearing. The photo was taken in 1964. I was fifteen years old. It was my graduation from Hampton Jr. High School, soon I would enter Mumford High. The gentleman with me, the one on the left, is Mr. Monroe, the school principal. I know he had at least one assistant but can not remember his, or her, name.

Administration? Now that I'm all grown up I know all those years these folks in charge were playing, "Good Cop/Bad Cop. The second in command would be the hard ass, the main man the guy with the heart of gold. But something I never gave a second thought to back then; was why he or she called, the Vice Principal?

Was he or she the principal of vice? Vice: an immoral or evil habit or practice. Depraved or degrading behavior.

What would he or she say about pole dancing?

Pole dancing is entertainment that can be classified as art. Except, when the pole is covered with boysenberry jam. In that case it's just plain messy.

Enjoy the rest of the day.