Comments by FONDL (page 49)

Chandler, I wouldn't say that I'm difficult to please, just that my tastes in a strip club are probably a little different. I like a girl who is small, young, attractive, personable and intelligent, and who treats me like a real person rather than an ATM machine. That shouldn't be hard to find but it often is. Cat and Bones, thanks for the info and directions, that helps me a great deal. And the fact that it's on the east side of town improves the odds that I can make it. If I get there it'll probably be around 1 pm.

I don't think Hillary would be too concerned. With the possible exception of Vegas, there are more hookers per capita advertising in DC than anywhere else in the US. That should keep Bill occupied. And it seems to me that Times Square was "improving" before Rudy came along, largely because of economics. Which is usually the main reason why strip clubs disappear. Actually I think Hillary might be good for strip clubs, as men everywhere sought escape from reality.

What time do they open and do they serve lunch? If I make it I will be fairly early. And can someone give me directions - I'll be heading south on I-95 and then west on I-20. Thanks.

Bones, we seem to have lost you on this discussion. I'm curious to know how things are going at the massage school and whether you have made any long-term "friends" as a result. Are the girls you meet there allowed to give you contact information so you can get together outside the school? And have you had any outside encounters, legitimate or otherwise? Incidently, what state are you talking about and do they license therapists and studios there? Only about half the states do and it can make a big difference.

Chandler, unless you specifically get a sports massage, what you get in the US is almost always called Swedish massage. But there's a lot of variation within that category, different therapists approach it differently and different schools teach it differently. As I said before, I prefer someone who approaches it more as a spiritual experience than as a medical procedure, even though there are almost always elements of both involved. And it's partly the appearance and personality of the therapist that determines that. Go to several different places and try several different therapists and I think you'll understand what I mean. There's an awful lot of variation between therapists. Book Guy, I agree with you that one's perception is what determines whether you think the performance is good or bad. And the personality and appearance of the provider has a lot to do with your perception. You're almost always going to think more highly of someone if they have a friendly professional manner, take pride in their appearance and seem to care about you. That's true whether you're getting a massage or a LD.

It's been a long time but it seems to me that some of the Providence, RI, clubs have nude laps. Yoda, is that correct? I've personally only run into the towel trick at one club, and I assumed it was for the lady's protection not mine.

Personally I think the court decisions about schools was a step backwards - which is the direction our schools need to go. Between federalization and school unions running the show, our public schools are losing public support. In many ares of the country the only kids who go to public schools are the poor kids whose parents can't afford anything better. We're rapidly approaching the point where, if school control isn't returned to the local community, the amount of money allocated to public schools will begin to decline. Personally I think that's sad. And I agree that the area where the president has the most influence is in selecting federal judges. FDR set that precedent many years ago.

Founder, the place I was thinking of is Playhouse Lounge in Burlington, NJ, which for a long time was the highest rated club in the US. Every time someone posted a less than spectacular review, it was immediately followed by another couple giving it a 10. No way could anyone give that place a 10, it's not even close. And I wouldn't be too quick to drop a review that has a factual error in it, sometimes you don't accurately remember every detail, especially if you've been drinking. If the place was crowded and the guy had had a few, it would be easy not to realize that the music was coming from a juke box instead of a dj. So what's a Founder to do? Tough call.

Chandler, I'm asking how do you know how well they perform their services, if you've never had any training in their field. Yes you can probably tell the difference between a great one and a terrible one, but most people don't perform at either extreme. For example, if you knew little about our tax system how would you know if your guy did a lousey job? Personally, in the case of something like a massage therapist, I think the ability to make the massage more enjoyable is part of her competence - a very large part.

Imnum, I guess I would argue that NAFTA and medicare drug benefits were only controversial among a fairly narrow group of people and that they both had pretty broad suppor across the political spectrum. In any event, the list of significant accomplishments by congress in the last 20 years is a very short list, which is a very significant departure from the 60s through the 80s when liberals were able to pass virtually thier entire agenda, including a whole range of major environmental initiatives. Who the R's will nominate is indeed an interesting question. Which is why I think they have little chance of winning, there's no one who is well known and has broad support. And I also think Hilary will win the nomination easily, although have you all noticed how active Al Gore has been recently?

It's not true that each person's rating only counts once, all he has to do is register multiple names, and I'm sure lots of people (eg. club managers) have done exactly that. I've seen several clubs where whenever someone gives it a bad rating the very next day someone new comes along and gives it a 10. Coincidence? I doubt it.

It's not true that each person's rating only counts once, all he has to do is register multiple names, and I'm sure lots of people (eg. club managers) have done exactly that. I've seen several clubs where whenever someone gives it a bad rating the very next day someone new comes along and gives it a 10. Coincidence? I doubt it.

Seems to me they have yet to pass any of the things that they said they were going to pass immediatly, even in the House. Truth is there are factions in both parties that don't agree with each other on much of anything. Which is why there hasn't been any significant legislation passed on any controversial issues in at least 20 years regardless of which party thought they were in control. Which is exactly how our legislature was designed to function - lots of noise, little action.

Anyone visiting Cleveland SCs would be well advised to make a side trip to Erie. Nuff said.

Chandler, it's not a third way, it's the traditional European way. It's called Swedish massage and used to be the most common form, before sports and deep tissue massage became popular. And you're right, I do feel the same way about LDs. The best ones for me always include both a physical connection and a spiritual (or mental-emotional if you prefer) one. It's a big reson why I prefer having a regular, I enjoy it much more if I can get to know the person on some level. And yes I am somewhat New Age in my beliefs, as I'm sure you know. But I'm curious about something you said earlier - how do you judge a person's competence in a technical field (like a massage therapist or dental assistant) in which you have had no training? Seems to me most people judge primarily by the person's personality, which is what I do and what you objected to. What other possibilities are there?

Bones, years ago after writing an explicit reveiw of a club visit, I received an anonymous email from someone wanting to know if I'd participate in a phone discussion of the club. I never responded. But I did contact the person who wrote the previous review of the club and he received the same email. I figured cop or news reporter. I've never been that explicit in a review again. Nor will I.

Book Guy, your theory actually had a lot to do with my ATF and I becoming good friends. She was often looking for something to do while he was off doing drugs with his buddies, and I was there. If he had paid more attention to her, I don't think she would have ever spent enough time with me for us to become close. And when she finally had enough and decided to move far away, I was there to help.

Chandler, a massage can be very different from a visit to a chiropractor and the reason for going may have nothing to do with pain or any other discomfort, for me it's all about relaxation. And as far as competence is concerned, as long as it isn't really bad, few people can tell the difference between a really competent therapist and one who is a little less so. In fact the main reason for a customer returning to a therapist is her personality, not her competence. The trick is to find someone who has both. There are actually two entirely different aspects to a massage: medical and spiritual. I prefer a massage that doesn't feel like a medical procedure but that feels more like a spiritual experience - more relaxation and less therapeutic. Which is why I'd never go to a chiropractor's office for a message. But that's me, others may have a different preference.

Clubber, I was talking "split" in a practical sense. As long as neither party has 60 senators, nothing can get through without some bi-partisan support. And the House is so close that the same is true there as well because there are still some conservative D's who won't go along with the liberal agenda. Which means that the moderates are in control, and that's the way I like it.

Around here I see a lot of really hot girls working as waitresses in the chain restaurants like Outback. I think that's a major part of their success. There are several colleges nearby and most of the waitresses are probably college girls. And these are fairly lucrative jobs so they have their pick. You don't see many fatties.

Book Guy, I think it all comes back to that self-image thing, at least for some of them. My ATF used to have a BF who was way below what I thought she should have - a loser in nearly every respect. I could never figure it out. Years later she admitted that she stuck with him because she didn't have the self confidence to think she could do better. Thankfully she's gotten over that.

Don't forget receptionists i fancy law offices. Funny but I think what we're mostly describing is average-looking thin girls who are all dressed up. Put them in a strip club naked and I don't think we'd find many of them to be very attractive.

Personally I don't thnk it makes much difference whether she's elected (I think she will be) or not. As long as congress remains divided, no president has much power over domestic affairs. Which is why there hasn't been anything new happen with domestic programs in many years - the last two presidents have been totally inefectual in that area (and I persnoally am glad for that.) The only area where the president has any real power is in the international arena. And who knows how she's likely to respond to the next big threat. I hope she has more balls than her husband did, she's going to need them.

Chandler, I prefer an attractive and personable young woman to give me a massage probably for the same reasons that I prefer an attractive and personable young woman as my waitress. There's nothing overtly sexual about it, I just enjoy it - maybe you can tell me why. For me a massage is more enjoyable if I am able to feel some sort of connection between the two of us, and that's far more likely if I'm with someone who I find attractive in one way or another. A massage by its very nature is a pretty intimate experience, and I enjoy intimacy much more if there's some mental or spiritual component. Case in point - my most recent massage was by an older Russian woman who spoke broken English - there was no possibility of any sort of connection between us and I didn't enjoy it much. My last regular therapist (not my ATF) wasn't especially attractive but she was very fit and she was very personable, intelligent and interesting, and I got to know her quite well. Unfortunately she moved away, which is why I'm looking for someone new. I've never had a sensual or sexual massage. Nor have I ever gotten sexually aroused during a massage, that's not what it's about for me.

I've gotten emails from people asking about specific clubs that I've mentioned but never about any specific dancers. I usually answer as honestly as I can but never discuss any illegal activities, which I frankly know very little about. Shadowcat, the reason you get so many questions about individual dancers and extras is becasue you're always talking about specific dancers and extras.