ISRAEL VOTES TO BAN BROADCAST PORN TEL AVIV, Israel -- Israeli lawmakers have voted to ban the broadcasting of pornography, almost a year after they voted to black out specially designated sex channels. Infringement of the new law, which is to take effect in 30 days, can result in as many as three years' imprisonment. An amendment to the July 2001 Communications Law introduced by ultra-Orthodox legislators outlawed such sex channels as Playboy, Spice and the locally produced Blue, which were introduced by satellite broadcaster YES when it launched broadcasts in 2000. The channels were so popular that cable rivals Golden Channels, Tevel and Matav followed suit. Cable operators, who were forced to remove the adult channels beginning in September, exploited a loophole to offer sex content on an expanded pay-per-view basis instead. The law passed late Tuesday closes that loophole. An amendment was rejected that would have permitted erotic broadcasts if devices like smart cards were used to prevent minors from watching. About 50% of subscribers to YES and digital cable channels order adult content, and the cable industry claims that removing such material will cost it about $50 million annually. And if you live in the US of A,LISTEN UP! "Just know that there are some mean, evil motherfuckers running the country right now where if we don't go out and vote, they're really going to fuck us up. So get out there in November and show them that we're going to stay." Tom Byron, getting out the vote.