Strippers: our right to know
HUGE legal/constitutional issues are suddenly at stake in the American state of
Washington.
In that state, strip-tease dancers pay a $75 (R825) a year licence fee. A Tacoma
man named David van Vleet went to court to obtain information, under Washington's
open records policy, about 70 licensed strippers in the town so that he could "pray for
them".
The county auditor granted his request. But two days later a county judge issued a
temporary order blocking the release, with a final decision scheduled for next month.
Feelings are running high. Van Vleet says the judge silenced the rights of seven
million people in the state of Washington "to protect 70 people's so-called right to
privacy, who dance on a stage naked".
Elizabeth Nolan Brown, editor of Reason magazine, reponds: "It's entirely likely the
person who wants this information is a crazy stalker or an anti-sex nutjob. Maybe
both. Maybe a blackmailer."
She points to a case last year where another Tacoma man who had been arrested
for stalking, and convicted of imitating a judge, tried to use the same public record
laws to get contact information on strippers.
Oops, sorry, I misread that. He was convicted of "intimidating" a judge, not imitating
him. I'm getting caught up in these intricacies of American law.
The case is being studied closely in the Street Shelter for the Over-Forties for
precedent and possible local application.
Voter switch?
INVESTMENT analyst Dr James Greener tells us in his latest grumpy newsletter that a truly alarming
flier was delivered to his home recently.
"Under the banner 'You Deserve Better', three local political activists quote a quite terrible national crime
statistic and urge the Durban municipality to do something about it.
"Quite right too. We do deserve better. The puzzle is that the flyer is published by the present ruling
party. Are they suggesting it's time to vote for someone else?"
Brit snippets
SOME snippets from the British newspapers:
• Commenting on a complaint from a Mr Arthur Purdey about a large gas bill, a spokesman for
North West Gas said: "We agree it was rather high for the time of year. It's possible Mr Purdey
has been charged for the gas used up during the explosion that destroyed his house." ( Daily
Telegraph)
• Police reveal that a woman arrested for shoplifting had a whole salami in her underwear.
When asked why, she said it was because she was missing her Italian boyfriend. (Manchester
Evening News)
• Irish police are being handicapped in a search for a stolen van, because they cannot issue a
description. It's a Special Branch vehicle and they don't want the public to know what it looks
like. (The Guardian)
• At the height of the gale, the harbour master radioed a coastguard and asked him to estimate
the wind speed. He replied he was sorry, but he didn't have a gauge. However, if it was any
help, the wind had just blown his Land Rover off the cliff. ( Aberdeen Evening Express)
• Mrs Irene Graham of Thorpe Avenue , Boscombe, delighted the audience with her
reminiscence of the German prisoner of war who was sent each week to do her garden. He
was repatriated at the end of 1945, she recalled – "He'd always seemed a nice friendly chap,
but when the crocuses came up in the middle of our lawn in February 1946, they spelt out 'Heil
Hitler'.'' ( Bournemouth Evening Echo)
Strawberries
DON Parry says he agrees entirely with correspondent Chris
Taylor about the folly of bowling round the wicket to left-handers –
as happened in the Dolphins-Lions match where we were soundly
thrashed.
"The tactic of bowling round the wicket to left-handers cost the
Dolphins the match. It's like feeding strawberries to a donkey.
"Left-handers thrive on balls bowled across them, particularly when
they're pitched half way up the wicket, and a replay will show how
many were clubbed to the leg side boundary.
"The tactic also contributed to the number of wides - 10 as opposed to the
Lions' two. The Dolphins should ditch this tactic now."
Tailpiece
"ANOTHER scotch, please."
"Sir, I think you've had enough."
"Shut up! You sound just like my wife."
"She also thinks you drink too much, sir?"
"No, she's also got an awful, squeaky voice."
Last word
Charm is the quality in others that makes us more satisfied with ourselves.
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