CYBERSPACE — Now that the Ukraine has banned pornography except for those with a doctor’s excuse, international bans on pornography may become all the rage. Irreverent Irish bookie Paddy Power is never one to miss a chance at wagering a bet —he’s laying odds on which nation will be next. The odds-on favorite is Turkey with 11/10, followed by Power’s own Ireland at 10/1 — with the understanding that the imposition of anti-smut legislation must take place prior to 2012.
Other contenders include the UK, which has become increasingly hostile to erotic expression during the past few years, at 6/1 and Italy at 5/1.
Less likely to pass a mandate against the fleshly entertainments are Denmark at 100/1, Brazil at 80/1, Holland at 66/1 and Mexico at 50/1. Sweden, infamous for its Swedish Bikini Team, currently sits at 25/1, which still makes it more likely to get a case of the conservatives than 33/1 Spain, known to some as the home of the Inquisition.
Further adding to the prurient fun of gambling is a projection that one-time porn star/now mother of twins, Jenna Jameson, is the favorite for being arrested on porn charges at 5/4. Given her alleged divorce from the industry other than within a profit check-cashing capacity, the wager seems unlikely to come to cash.
Sacha Baron Cohen’s intentionally aggravating Bruno character follows Jameson with a 6/4 and Paris Hilton trails at 5/1. Other contenders include Pamela Anderson, Hugh Hefner and Boogie Nights “porn star” Mark Wahlberg, all of whom seem to indicate a prankish sense of humor on the part of the Irish bookie.
The Ukrainian parliament made possession of any and all pornography illegal on June 11th – except for those whose physicians have deemed the material necessary. Complicating the matter is a vague definition of what constitutions pornography. A 2003 document indicates that “Pornography is vulgar, candid, cynical, obscene depiction of sexual acts, pursuing no other goal, the explicit demonstration of genitals, unethical elements of the sexual act, sexual perversions, realistic sketches that do not meet moral criteria and offend honor and dignity of the human by inciting low instincts.”
