Official: Vibrators Cause Money Laundering

"Obscene" sex toys can lead to child pornography, money laundering and prostitution according to one Texan assistant DA.

His admission, in an interview with the Family Badge website, follows the arrest of a Lubbock lingerie store clerk who faces jail and the sex offender register for selling vibrators.

Police raided the Somethin' Sexy lingerie store last week for violating Lubbock's sexually- oriented business ordinance.

"I feel like I`m in 1690 Salem, Massachusetts and we`re looking for a witch to burn," said the store’s owner, following his clerk's arrest.

He adds: "I think it`s ridiculous. She`s not a sex offender, she was selling something that I had instructed them it was ok to sell, I think it`s ridiculous."

Earlier this month, four officers raided the shop, confiscating several toys deemed to be illegal by the Texas penal code. (hehehe having a Beavis & Butthead moment)

The state code states "a person who possesses six or more obscene devices is presumed to possess them with intent to promote the same." In other words, intent to sell...but I must wonder, why six?

The owner said: "We went to several places in Dallas where the merchandise that was deemed obscene here they have in open view on the shelves. Lubbock seems to be taking the most hard line approach that we`ve seen anywhere in Texas"

He adds: "We kept it in a closed cabinet, we did not promote it. If someone asked, then we showed them the merchandise. Our guest book, we`ve had over 1500 people sign up to receive emails and mail outs."

Lubbock Assistant District Attorney John Grace explained his definition of obscenity as: "If they tell them this is a candle put in on the birthday cake this is a novelty if they tell you to use it to enjoy sexual gratification, its no longer a candle on the birthday cake."

Grace adds: "What’s considered obscene in LA is different than Lubbock and different than Des Moines. The community ultimately decides what is obscene."

From where I'm sitting, this clerk's arrest is obscene. But Grace continues his diatribe on obscenity.

He assures the interviewer that obscenity laws have been on the books as long as books have been around as they are a way of protecting the community from what he calls the "secondary effects" of obscenity: child pornography, money laundering and prostitution.

He's quick to add, however that it’s the Texas legislature that are responsible for deciding whether a law is unjust - not the D.A.’s - it is merely job to enforce it.

I agree that the DA is responsible for upholding legislation, but surely in their remit they must interpret legislation and choose which cases to pursue!

Ohmmm's Law

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Now, tell me about your mother

While Freud encouraged his patients to explore their suppressed Oedipal complex, he neglected investigating an entirely different mummy relationship.

Mummification, a specialised bondage, involves the entire body being wrapped tightly until immobilised. Holes, including one for breathing, are then cut to allow access to areas, such as the genitals. Used in BDSM 'play', the aim of the game is restriction of movement and dominance/submission.

While traditional bondage involves ropes and ties, they don't allow for the feel of complete encasement, so a variety of materials are used by the afficianado, such as duct tape, bandages, plaster of Paris, pantyhose or cling film (aka saran wrap) .

Yes, I hear you gasp, cling film. Makes me kind of glad I don't do sandwiches. I'm not sure I will be able to look at a pack up in quite the same way again. However with it being so readily available and relatively inexpensive, it's the perfect choice for those experimenting with these sensations. Plus, I'd imagine that it wouldn't wax your body hair in the process like duct tape might...although I'm not sure that would be a good thing if your real turn-on was pain!

A variety of materials and tools are available for the connoisseur to explore this BDSM niche. With vet bandages, clingfilm and pallet wrap available in the colours of the rainbow, I am reminded that as with any fetish, all senses must be stimulated and a mummy in hot pink duct tape would certainly do that for most people!

DVDs, JPGs and forums on this subject are plentiful on the net. Sites such as Mummification Sex provide their members with a vast library of images and film covering every taste in sensory depravation.

However, some tastes are more specialised than others. Ulrich Harburste is a man with a distinct and unique fixation - indeed, his is a very specialised fetish. The author fantasises about clingfilm play with his 'monochrome buddha', Roy Orbison.

In February, Ulli released a book, Novel of Roy Orbison in Clingfilm and has a website devoted to his interest in the Pretty Woman crooner. Harburste's tales have developed such a cult following that musician Dr Snooks has put one of the stories to music - definitely worth a listen!

Thrills from the Drill

With my dentist's appointment booked for this afternoon and looking for blog inspiration, I thought what better way to prepare myself for the joy of drilling than with an exploration of dental fetishism.

Medical fetishes are popular and to some extent common with even mainstream sex shops like

Ann Summers selling nurse's outfits. Many patients often feel attraction to their GP, nurse or dentist, although I suspect that this is more due to Stockholm Syndrome

than true sexual desire.

Many observers believe that medical fetishism is rooted in childhood behavioural imprinting. However, dentistry, for many, is a taboo too far. While the thought of having a dental examination leaves many overwhelmed with dread, there are some who derive masochistic thrills from the dentist's drill.

Years ago, I spoke to a friend studying to be a dentist about training. She mentioned that it was an eye-opener and proceeded to tell me about a client who actually asked whether it would be ok for him to masturbate as she worked on him. At the time, she laughed it off, but I could see she was rattled by this paraphilia.

Fortunately for her, the internet has allowed this group to be catered for from the privacy of their own homes. Sites such as

Dental Fetish cater to this group's needs with images of dentistry in action. Unlike your typical porn site, models are shown from the neck up - with focus being given to their crowns, caps and fillings. BDSM dentistry dvds and tools

(calling them toys would be a stretch - even for me) are readily available for those seeking dental action - both in fantasy and reality.

Welcome the 21st Century Mail Order Bride!

In Japan, the market for love dolls, or 'Dutch wives' as they are known is on the rise according to a report by Mainichi News today. The Japanese latex love industry has stretched beyond the supply of models to include doll escort services and specialist magazines for the man who longs for a silicone-lipped lover.

While the Japanese have taken this fetish a step further, it is by no means an eastern fixation. Agalmatophilia refers to those who are aroused or have a fetish involving statues or mannequins. History, religious in particular, is well-documented with groups who worshipped and adored statues - both figuratively and literally.

More recently, however, we hear stories in the news, such as that of 39-year-old Ronald Dotson of Detroit, Michigan. He was sentenced to 18 months on charges of breaking and entering and being a habitual criminal. Some of the incidents involved mannequins, including one dressed as a French maid and in another incident he was found with three clad in lingerie in an alley behind a shop.

However, not all people with this fetish go to such lengths for a fix. Since 1996, companies such as Real Doll have been producing what they claim is the most realistic and technologically-advanced love doll in the world. In the near future, there are hopes that these models will be taken one step further as they become animatronic.

Priced in excess of $6000, each doll is crafted to customer specification and every effort is made to ensure it's realism - with such a high level of detail, they are eerily lifelike.

Customer Jean from Quebec writes in a testimonial: " Received my doll today and I don't find my words to describe her beauty. She's just wonderful !!!!! I love her so much!"

However, these dolls serve a purpose much greater than realism - one must not forget their true calling: gratification. Sexual needs are accommodated with snug vaginal, anal and oral entry points. With a softer silicon used in these areas, the company claim that it is 'very lifelike'.

The dolls are designed in such a way that, when penetrated, a powerful suction effect occurs. The company claim that some users have reported intense orgasms due to this specific feature, particularly when entering the oral cavity.

While the user is provided with easy access to sexual thrills and pleasure, I suspect that the recent rise in the 'real doll's' popularity is about much more than sex or a fetish. After watching a 'real doll' documentary on Channel 5 several months ago, my ex-husband joked that he'd be saving up for a doll very soon as they are 'perfect'.

Customer Jean expands on excitement his doll has brought. He continues: "I get an instant erection every time I touch her, that's amazing, there's no stress to have with her. It's so relaxing and exciting me, that's a great way to calm down after a day of work and a hour of car driving in the traffic."

Surely in these impersonal days of computerised everything, when it comes to love, the human touch is essential. Has our alienation from our fellow man as a result of computers caused us to seek out our primal urges with a piece of moulded latex? Or, perhaps the 'love doll' has become the 21st century mail order bride? Always smiling, always submissive and always ready to please, she only needs a microwave and hoover attachment and she really would be the perfect wife. I, for one, will be watching the Real Doll site for those options when the new animatronic models are released!

All steamed up!

While walking through Victoria rail station one day last year, I noticed an Ann Summers shop open. I wondered how a sex shop fit into the rail travel experience...I'm not a prude but it just seemed slightly out of place.

So, does the thought of a train get you feeling all hot and steamy?

Then perhaps you could be suffering from siderodromophilia - arousal from trains. While joining the 'Mile High Club' tops most people's sexual to-do list, there aren't many who would say no to sex on a train....or no to sex full stop for that matter! With a greater amount of space and longer journey times, there is ample opportunity to not only create, but seize sexual opportunity.

While the London to Reading commuter train at rush hour may leave you hot and flustered for all the wrong reasons, long distance train travel through scenic landscapes exudes sexiness. Classic films such as Hitchcock's North by Northwest play into the romance and excitement that rail travel holds for us.

So, what is the great train appeal that sends couples rushing to the sleeper compartments and anoraked spotters out with their notebooks?

Of course, particularly with modern trains, there is a phallic shape - however, I think the arousal is more from the momentum and tempo of the train's journey. The incessant rocking driving motion duplicates the rhythms of love.

So, go on, be a devil, grab a ticket and book yourself in for a trip with the limitless sexual possibilities!