Watercooler Stories

Crackdown sought for droopy drawers

RICHMOND, Va., Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Virginia legislators opposed to low-riding pants that expose gluteal cleavage as a fashion statement are being accused of targeting young blacks.

A bill known as the "droopy drawers" bill sponsored by Democratic state Rep. Algie Howell would impose a $50 fine on anyone whose boxers, briefs or thongs peek above their pants or skirts.

It passed the House Tuesday by a 60-34 vote, and now goes to the Senate.

However, Kent Willis, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia, said the bill "clearly targets" black men.

In response, Republican Rep. John Reid offered his rebuttal: "Underwear is called underwear for a reason -- because it is normally worn under your clothes."

There was no immediate indication of how the measure would affect plumbers and other tradesmen known for low-riding pants, the Washington Times said.

Porn tape drags up wife's abuse as child

DEVON, England, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- A British man who brought home a pornographic tape was horrified to realize the female "star" was his wife at the age of 12, Sky News reported Wednesday.

The unidentified 34-year-old man told police he brought the tape home to "spice up" the couple's love life, and realized quickly it was a pedophile film featuring his wife, now 32, being abused in a pub.

Before contacting police, the devastated woman told her husband she had put the incident out of her mind in shame, and said she had no idea it had been filmed.

"One of the men gave me a Jack Daniels to drink and fed me pills," she said. "After I was sexually abused I didn't tell anyone because I was ashamed and dirty."

Devon and Cornwall police are hunting the men seen in the film "Cocktail Orgies" and asked anyone with a copy of the 1980s film to send it to them.

Abetting charge for anti-hooker vigilante

OKLAHOMA CITY, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- An Oklahoma City man widely known as a vigilante against prostitution has been charged with aiding and abetting it, The Oklahoman reported Wednesday.

Brian Bates has been making videos of transactions between prostitutes and customers to give to police for prosecution since 1996. He was arrested late Tuesday after a 4-month investigation.

"The investigation alleges Bates paid a prostitute to have sex with a john at a predetermined location so that he could film the act," said Debra Forshee, spokeswoman for the Oklahoma County district attorney's office.

Forshee said she did not know whether the videotape had already been made or what Bates' intentions were.

Bates is a board member of the Alliance Against Prostitution, and operates the Web site videovigilante.com, on which he claims "Street prostitution is not the world's oldest profession. Instead, it is the world's oldest abuse of women."