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.