Off By One

This is a bit of a catch-all posting; I’ve been entertained by a few of the things I’ve seen recently, enraged by others, and figured I would pass on a few tidbits.

Seen on thursday evening in a restaurant: A little boy, probably a bit over one year old, starts to do that high-pitched attention-getter crying bit, and after a token effort at calming him by his father, the mother pulls out a portable DVD player and sets it up on the table so that he can watch a TV show and shut the hell up.

Overheard this morning in a Starbucks: A couple having coffee together, both looking modern, professional, and stereotypically ‘starbucky’… Talking about playing online RPGs, power-leveling, and gold farming.

In the news: A film, Fitna, that is — as do so many things these days — enraging the religious of the eastern world to the point of sputtering threats. Please note, “The Internet interprets censorship as damage and routes around it.”

It’s a good sign, if you ask me, when your christmas gift comes with a letter like this one (boldface text highlighted by Matt):

As requested in a letter from your client, Mr. Chris Staros, dated October 3, 2006, please be advised that I have now completed my review of the goods, namely a boxed set of three graphic novels, entitled Lost Girls. The three graphic novels were reviewed in full, and were found not to fall within the provisions of Customs Tariff item 9899.00.00.

This boxed set was found to contain depictions and descriptions of incest and bestiality, which are indicators of obscenity under current Canada Border Services Agency guidelines. However, these depictions and descriptions are integral to the development of an intricate, imaginative and artfully rendered storyline. When considering the “internal necessities” test, it appears that, in this instance, the portrayal of sex is necessary to a wider artistic and literary purpose. As a result, it is my opinion that this boxed set does not constitute obscenity.

The boxed set was also found to contain depictions and descriptions of sexual acts involving persons under the age of 18. However, it would appear that these representations serve a legitimate purpose related to art and to the very detailed story about the sexual awakening and development of the three main female characters. Furthermore, it is my opinion that this item does not pose an undue risk of harm to persons under the age of 18 years. As a result, it is my opinion that this boxed set does not constitute child pornography.

As the boxed set entitled Lost Girls does not constitute obscenity or child pornography, it does not fall within the provisions of tariff item 9899.00.00. Its importation into Canada is therefore allowed.

I’ve already read the “boxed set entitled Lost Girls,” and it’s pretty impressive. Good writing, although it could have done without the last page and a half of book three, which was just wankery of a different sort, if you ask me, but other than that it was a lot better than I expected. It really was erotica, as opposed to pornography.

I would recommend it, but… well, truth be told I’m not sure many of you reading this would enjoy it. It’s pretty bent in some places, and really does have to be read in its entirety to appreciate it.