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News & ArtsFriday, May 29, 2009
Housekeeping Cleanliness Is Next to Godliness
Posted by Dominic Holden on Fri, May 29, 2009 at 5:04 PM
In this week's paper, Jonah and I write about the bust of an alleged brothel called the Sacred Temple on Eastlake Avenue East. The article contained an error, writes Ruby:
I was involved in the temple for nearly a year, and as I read the article one thing stuck out as totally untrue. "Each small room in the compound contained a pump bottle of lubricant and a rack of small blue towels." Honey, that was hand sanitizer. Every single room had a heater, a crock pot, loads of towels, tissues...and hand sanitizer. No lube. If people had lube, they brought their own. The management did not supply it. I know it seems like a small thing, but it really makes a difference in deciding whether the management was "forcing" women to have sex (which of course, they were not). Please ask Dominic Holden and Jonah Spangenthal-Lee to check their facts.
That was my fault. I was walking though the ransacked house two days after police raided the place, trying to take it all in. The rooms were dark, and the bottles contained a substance that looked exactly like lube: clear, viscous stuff in pump bottles next to the tables/beds. A call to one of the employees confirms that the Sacred Temple was not stocked with lube, but rather with hand sanitizer. I regret the error.
4
@3, I was wondering the exact same thing. A fondue pot? maybe. A party percolator? Definitely. But a crock pot?
Of course, I may not want to know the answer....
Of course, I may not want to know the answer....
5
wench and Catalina:
The crock pot--according to a memoir by a local writer and sex worker who was employed there briefly--was used to keep the lube in each room heated up. . . . at least, it was back in her day. So I don't know how much of an apology Jonah actually owes the place for that "mistake."
The book in question is titled "Indecent: How I Make It and Fake It as a Girl for Hire," and it's a reasonably interesting beach read, if you're looking for a no-holds-barred expose of some seedy historical corners of the local sex industry.
The crock pot--according to a memoir by a local writer and sex worker who was employed there briefly--was used to keep the lube in each room heated up. . . . at least, it was back in her day. So I don't know how much of an apology Jonah actually owes the place for that "mistake."
The book in question is titled "Indecent: How I Make It and Fake It as a Girl for Hire," and it's a reasonably interesting beach read, if you're looking for a no-holds-barred expose of some seedy historical corners of the local sex industry.
6
Dom and Jonah, it's articles like this that make me thankful the Stranger exists. There's no way the mainstream press would get this story right. These people have done nothing wrong, are being totally fucked over by the city. It's always a bad thing when government tramples on the civil rights of its citizens.
Dom, as someone with experience with successful initiatives, you should start an initiative to legalize brothels in Seattle. Sell it to liberals and feminists as a woman's right to her body and livelihood, and as a way stop exploitation by pimps. Sell it to the neighborhoods as a way to end streetwalking. Sell it to everyone else as a way to boost tourism and tax revenues.
You all know it's the right thing to do, and you have the balls and talent to do it.
Dom, as someone with experience with successful initiatives, you should start an initiative to legalize brothels in Seattle. Sell it to liberals and feminists as a woman's right to her body and livelihood, and as a way stop exploitation by pimps. Sell it to the neighborhoods as a way to end streetwalking. Sell it to everyone else as a way to boost tourism and tax revenues.
You all know it's the right thing to do, and you have the balls and talent to do it.
7
@ Anne
A good portion of that memoir you speak of was a joke. At least 80% of the portion that involved the "School." I would know, I was there, and even had my name in the back. So as for Jonah not "really" needing to apologize, think again. The crock pots were used to heat up many different things; oil and lotion being the main items. The women of the Sacred Temple practiced an ancient ritual known as the abhyanga ritual.
Do your research, know your facts.
A good portion of that memoir you speak of was a joke. At least 80% of the portion that involved the "School." I would know, I was there, and even had my name in the back. So as for Jonah not "really" needing to apologize, think again. The crock pots were used to heat up many different things; oil and lotion being the main items. The women of the Sacred Temple practiced an ancient ritual known as the abhyanga ritual.
Do your research, know your facts.
9
"These people have done nothing wrong, are being totally fucked over by the city. It's always a bad thing when government tramples on the civil rights of its citizens."
I'd be astounded if they declared all their income from this business. Massage parlors do a lot of cash transactions which provides ample opportunity to avoid paying one's fair share of business and income tax. I suspect the financial aspect of these businesses is what really triggered the governmental interest.
I'd be astounded if they declared all their income from this business. Massage parlors do a lot of cash transactions which provides ample opportunity to avoid paying one's fair share of business and income tax. I suspect the financial aspect of these businesses is what really triggered the governmental interest.
10
Wow -- an apology without an ounce of snark.
Refreshing.
(But wait until Dan finds out you apologized without being an ass about it.... that just ain't done around here Mister!)
Refreshing.
(But wait until Dan finds out you apologized without being an ass about it.... that just ain't done around here Mister!)
12
Dominic, I'm sorry to say this, but you aren't qualified to be writing stories and mistakes like this are going to keep happening until it is something really big.
You saw what you wanted to see, not what was fact.
You should be relegated to drug reporting, your expertise, and what you were hired for.
You saw what you wanted to see, not what was fact.
You should be relegated to drug reporting, your expertise, and what you were hired for.
13
Such stupid shit.
It is a whore house.
Shit. And that is OK.
All the double talk and blah blah changes nothing.
Whore house, and damn good one.
Should be taxed and encouraged to expand - and rated from the customers.
Remember - whore house - all the rest is for simpletons.
It is a whore house.
Shit. And that is OK.
All the double talk and blah blah changes nothing.
Whore house, and damn good one.
Should be taxed and encouraged to expand - and rated from the customers.
Remember - whore house - all the rest is for simpletons.
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