In the UK, a single page in Wikipedia has been effectively banned in England by the Internet Watch Foundation, a non-government group – the result being that many British ISPs have blocked people in the UK from viewing this page. The page in question shows the cover for a 1976 album “Virgin Killer” by the German heavy metal band Scorpions. This is not simply an instance of the censors showing good taste in music. The cover image depicts a naked girl who is undoubtedly under the age of consent. The band has never been prosecuted for this image. This image has never been officially declared obscene. And what will the IWF decide people shouldn’t look at next? I suppose it would be too much to hope it would be anything to do with Hannah Montana?

Back home in Hong Kong, the downturn in the economy has left people with too much free time on their hands. As reported in Kaiju Shakedown and EastSouthWestNorth, one idiot decided to watch the 1997 Stephen Chow classic comedy From Beijing With Love. There is a scene in there where Chow gets shot and Anita Yuen removes the bullet. Since there is no anasthetic, Chow watches a porn film to distract himself during the operation. Anyway, this moron decided it would be a good use of his time to figure out which porn film Chow is watching in this 11 year old movie. Guess what? It’s a porn film starring Traci Lords, who lied about her age to get into the porn business decades ago. And apparently, if this is one of those films that was made when she was underage, under Hong Kong law, they can prosecute Stephen Chow for “exhibiting a film depicting sexual intercourse with a minor.”

Okay, he’s not being prosecuted yet. But if they did, what possible good could such an action do anyone anywhere in Hong Kong or the rest of the world?

Yesterday, the Craptard devoted its pseudo editorial page to running an article from a French news agency detailing how business in Bangkok’s red light districts is down following the blockade of the airports. It includes this bit of detail for all you punters out there:

Prostitutes offer two hours of sexual services for 800 baht (HK$173) instead of the normal 1,500 to 2,000 baht that would cost.

For those who seek other entertainment there, we get this information:

The airport closures also hurt the capital’s other entertainment options, such as the famous “ladyboy” cabaret shows.

“The shutdown of the airports seriously affected our business,” said Nipon Boonmasuwaran, sales and marketing manager of the Calypso show, where flamboyantly dressed transvestites lip-sync and dance to famous tunes.

“Our guests have dropped 90 percent – we have less than 50 guests in our 350-seat theater,” Nipon said.

The Calypso also canceled its second daily showing during the November 25 to December 3 chaos, when images of frustrated tourists trying to flee Thailand from a military airbase beamed around the world.

“We handed out thousands of free tickets for the stranded hotel guests in order to entertain them and hope that they would buy drinks – otherwise we will have no business,” he said.

The article also takes the time to inform us that since 2005, Thailand has only been the #2 destination for sex tourism – Brazil is now #1. Book your holidays accordingly.

The slowdown in the sex business is worldwide. The NY Times reports on a drop-off in business in Prague, focusing in part on a brothel where you can now have sex for free with a hooker as long as you allow them to film you doing it.

But Mr. Borowitz said Big Sister hoped to offset a 15 percent drop in revenues over the past quarter by expanding into the United States. The brothel also produces cable TV shows that air on Sky Italia and Britain’s Television X, as well as DVDs like “World Cup Love Truck.”
….
In Prague, even brothels in the most touristy areas complain they are suffering from economic hardship. On a recent night near Wenceslas Square in Prague, dozens of young men loitered outside a row of neon-lighted sex clubs, beckoning passing tourists with offers of complementary alcohol and racy strip shows.
…………………..
Many Czechs are more than happy to see Prague shrug off its reputation as one of the world’s top 20 sex destinations. But some in the hotel industry are so alarmed by the drop in tourists that they are lobbying the government to legalize the trade, in the hope that it will help lure more clients.

While some critics have warned that legalization would effectively transform the Czech state into the country’s biggest pimp, the Czech government is considering whether to emulate the Netherlands and Germany by regulating prostitution like any other industry. It is considering passing legislation by the end of the year that would require the Czech Republic’s estimated 10,000 prostitutes to register with the local authorities.
……

Even with the downturn, she added, prostitution was far more resilient than other industries, though the downturn was discouraging adultery.

“An Austrian farmer from a remote area who is not married will still cross the border to the Czech Republic looking for sex,” she said. “On the other hand, the recession is helping to keep husbands at home who might otherwise be cheating on their wives.”

………

Only a few years ago the town of Dubi was so overrun by prostitution that a nearby orphanage was opened to provide refuge for dozens of unwanted babies of prostitutes and their German clients. Sex could be purchased for as little as 5 euros — the price of a few beers in Dresden — drawing a daily influx of more than 1,000 sex tourists.

Today, more than three dozen brothels have been winnowed down to four; several were converted into goulash restaurants or golf clubs.

The article also notes that Nevada’s famous Mustang Ranch recently laid off 30% of its staff due to the economic downturn.

Dinner tonight at Bo Innovation. My first time to experience molecular gastronomy, let alone Chinese style.

The restaurant is on Ship Street, off Johnston Road. A glass elevator to the second floor brings you to this great setting. Note the huge mosaic portrait of chef Alvin Leung, the self proclaimed “demon chef” (and that’s what his tattoo says).

We had the chef’s menu – $1,680 per person with wine. Starting with a glass of champagne, followed by a mixture of whites and reds from Australia, New Zealand, France, Spain that beautifully complemented the various courses. (Probably should mention that we were comped – the staff knew in advance we were there to review for a magazine. However from my observation, all the other tables received the same food and attentive service we did.)
#1 Century egg with super sour foam. As a rule I don’t eat eggs and I’ve certainly never tried a century egg before. But I was resolved to at least taste every dish put in front of me. And as eggs go, it was actually kind of pleasant.

The clam, served with a bloodless Bloody Mary – sorry no photo but a fascinating two layered non-alcoholic drink.

We were told this was one of the signature dishes – a quail egg smoked with brown sugar and tea leaves, covered in taro, topped with beluga caviar. As I said, I don’t care for eggs. But I asked if I could have ten more of this one.

Vegetable cappuccino – I forget the vegetable used – and a crouton made with anchovies!

Thin slice of toro “paper” – the pincers were there for rolling it up.

Very sweet peas, sticky rice and a sauce made from Chinese pickles.

Another signature dish – this is xiao long bao! The dark red square is dried vinegar – place on your tongue, let it melt, then take in the rest – my gosh, it tasted exactly like a perfect xiao long bao.

Hairy crab souffle, with vinegar and fruit salad

Not on the menu but brought to us at this point anyway – Chinese sausage ice cream! We got two spoons each, I would have been happier with four.

Steamed foie gras with a sauce that included rice foam, lotus, char siu, chinese mushrooms – this is the only dish I didn’t finish as I’m not a fan of foie gras and even with that amazing sauce, after one bite of the liver I pushed that aside and just scooped up the sauce on its own.

Leung’s take on sweet and sour pork. Five more of these please!

Australian Wagyu beef with black truffle soy and cheung fun – as odd a take on dim sum as you’re likely to find but look at this amazing piece of beef.

Dessert varied slightly from the menu … we were told to eat from right to left – red bean creme brulee, gingko nut foam soda, sesame and banana and something else

And then … apple crumble! With egg batter foam

More views of the restaurant – we ate outside, surrounded by heaters and a clear sky.

So what did I think? Having read both pro and con about molecular gastronomy, I decided I fall into the “pro” column. When I picked up something that didn’t look like anything I’d ever seen before, put it in my mouth and went, “wow, that’s xiao long bao!” I was smiling like a kid. The servers did a very good job of explaining what each course consisted of. The dishes are actually much more complex than the menu states.

Leung changes the menu every month and we were told that most “regulars” only go there once a month. There is a tasting menu that costs $680. The chef’s menu is $1,080 or $1,680 with wine. There is no a la carte except during the day when they have some dim sum.

The dinner took four hours and it was an event – it was dinner and theater all rolled into one. If it was not the best meal I ever ate, it was certainly one of the most memorable. On that basis, Bo Innovation definitely merits its two Michelin stars.

And I don’t think I’ve ever been so full in my life.