The Upside: Hard times -- the sex industry and the recession
You know the old saying: "As porn goes, so goes the nation."
Okay, I made it up, but it's true. Our nation's latest economic
bellwether is the sex industry.  You see, once I learned that
the global recession had put Czech hookers out of work, I began
to wonder whether our home-grown American hookers have also
given new meaning to the phrase "massive layoffs." It's not easy
finding sex workers to interview. Indeed, upon calling several
Los Angeles-based escort services, I was shocked at the shabby
customer service I received. But I did hear from many in what I
think of as the sexertainment industry – porn sites, gentlemen's
clubs, sex toy companies. Because those people hire publicists.
And their business is -- pardon the pun -- on the rise.  Take
Red Light Center: a virtual world, like Second Life, but with
rampant cybersex. Begun in 2004, Red Light Center's membership
has grown during the recession, doubling each year for the past
two years. Found