Author Topic: Euros:1 Texas:0 (Read 1845 times)

Vulcan · « **on:** May 06, 2005, 12:16:34 AM »

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Striptease is art, Oslo court rules
06 May 2005

OSLO: Striptease is art like opera or ballet, an Oslo court has ruled in a victory for nightclub owners over Norway's tax authorities.

"I'm very pleased. Ninety per cent of the guests here tell me that what I'm doing is art," a female stripper at the Dream Go Go Bar in the city of Trondheim told NRK radio.

The court ruled this week that striptease should be treated like other artistic stage shows, ranging from stand-up comedy to opera, for which tickets are exempt from value-added tax (VAT).

Tax authorities had demanded more than 1.0 million Norwegian crowns from the Blue Angel club in Oslo in unpaid VAT, arguing that strippers were not artists and so tickets to their shows were subject to VAT, normally 25 percent.

Lawyers for the Blue Angel, which contested the VAT demands, argued that undressing as nurses, police women or flamenco dancers demonstrated artistic flair. Tax authority lawyers said audiences were attracted to the shows by nudity, not art.

"Of course stripping is art," Magnus Morland, owner of the String Show Bar in Oslo, told Reuters. He said the ruling would let clubs operate with better margins and did not rule out cutting the 150 Norwegian crowns entry fee.

versus:

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Texas to cheerleaders - no more booty-shaking
06 May 2005

AUSTIN: Texas lawmakers have sent a message to the state's high school cheerleaders: no more booty-shaking at the game.

The state's House of Representatives voted 85-55 to approve a bill that would forbid sexy cheers and give the Texas Education Agency authority to punish schools that allow "overtly sexually suggestive" routines at football games and other events.

The proposal must go to the Texas Senate for consideration.

"People are calling and telling me how disgusting it is to see sexually suggestive routines on the part of marching units or cheerleaders," said state representative Al Edwards, who sponsored the bill.

He complained of cheerleaders "shaking their behinds, breaking it down," but the proposal does not define what constitutes suggestive cheering.

Democratic state rep. Senfronia Thompson, also of Houston, said the bill was a waste of valuable time.

"I think the Texas Education Agency has enough to do making sure our kids are better educated, and we are wasting our time with 'one two three four, we can't shake it any more?"' Thompson told legislators.

bunch · « **Reply #1 on:** May 06, 2005, 12:59:11 AM »

cue the remake of footloose

rpm · « **Reply #2 on:** May 06, 2005, 01:18:32 AM »

I'm actually in favor of this. Since the locals can't or would not control decorum, the state stepped in. They can potato it up all they want in college. High school is completely different.

Steve · « **Reply #3 on:** May 06, 2005, 01:41:45 AM »

Score one for the Euro's alright, morally bankrupt, decadent to the point of being w/out any knid of moral compass at all.

NUKE · « **Reply #4 on:** May 06, 2005, 01:50:34 AM »

Since when in the history of man has Europe been the world's moral standard? I'd venture to say NEVER.

GREENTENERAL · « **Reply #5 on:** May 06, 2005, 01:52:02 AM »

I'm in favor also, but I do not beleive that issues of morality should have ever been issues of government anywhere.

The day that any government can decide what will give a man a chubby is the day that the government will have total control over what a man is allowed to think.

Naso · « **Reply #6 on:** May 06, 2005, 01:55:48 AM »

25% VAT?

WoW.

It's quite high.

NUKE · « **Reply #7 on:** May 06, 2005, 01:59:54 AM »

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Originally posted by GREENTENERAL
The day that any government can decide what will give a man a chubby is the day that the government will have total control over what a man is allowed to think.

So, you would have no problem with child porn?

GREENTENERAL · « **Reply #8 on:** May 06, 2005, 02:01:19 AM »

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Originally posted by NUKE
Since when in the history of man has Europe been the world's moral standard? I'd venture to say NEVER.

I'm guessing that you are catholic. If so, the answer for you should be, ALWAYS

NUKE · « **Reply #9 on:** May 06, 2005, 02:05:14 AM »

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Originally posted by GREENTENERAL
I'm guessing that you are catholic. If so, the answer for you should be, ALWAYS

wow, seems like people on at this hour are mostly sleeping.

GREENTENERAL · « **Reply #10 on:** May 06, 2005, 02:18:52 AM »

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Originally posted by NUKE
So, you would have no problem with child porn?

No one can control how someone else thinks about children, not even a government. So it is not a question of wheather I or anyone agrees with it.

Now, when it comes to someone abusing a child, we can intervene, and I beleive that a government can have that power.
Controlling what someone thinks is impossible. Also, child porn is a violation of that child. The child, being a child, is not of age to make sound decisions.

If consentual adults wish to engage in sexual behavior of any kind, it is none of my business, regardless of my own feelings or morals. It began with how they think, and in the end, I cannot control that, nor can a government. Agency is not something that we can give or take away as we are refined to physical reaction and interaction.

NUKE · « **Reply #11 on:** May 06, 2005, 02:22:40 AM »

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Originally posted by GREENTENERAL
No one can control how someone else thinks about children, not even a government. So it is not a question of wheather I or anyone agrees with it.

So, if you had pictures of child porn on your computer, the government has no control over it and it's all okay?

GREENTENERAL · « **Reply #12 on:** May 06, 2005, 02:26:16 AM »

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Originally posted by NUKE
wow, seems like people on at this hour are mostly sleeping.

I'm a nightowl, but it is good to find someone that is willing to debate at this hour, and someone that makes me think!

Unfortunately, I have to go to bed, but I look forward to other discussions.

peace out and ride the boogy

Christopher

mora · « **Reply #13 on:** May 06, 2005, 02:50:46 AM »

LOL, what a slippery slope. Stripping -> child porn.

bunch · « **Reply #14 on:** May 06, 2005, 02:57:46 AM »

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Originally posted by GREENTENERAL
I'm a nightowl, but it is good to find someone that is willing to debate at this hour, and someone that makes me think!

Unfortunately, I have to go to bed, but I look forward to other discussions.

peace out and ride the boogy

Christopher

when did you stop beating your wife?