The Daily Newds

• Queensland is the only state in Australia that does not have an official nude beach, and local nudists have turned out in numbers to support a 75 year old retiree who was incorrectly charged with being a public nuisance. Police have been forced to pay a fine, but it looks as though there is going to be a legal crackdown on the beach. For the last 30 years, the law has turned a blind eye to the nudists. So what has changed here? “I feel they’re just trying to harass nudists for something that is a very minor offence and is not hurting anybody. Surely there are other crimes more worthy of police attention,” says Free Beaches Australia Vice-President Anita Grigg.
• The Michigan Supreme Court has upheld a ruling that nudity on basic cable television can be prosecuted as indecent exposure. The ruling is an aberration according to a first amendment attorney, but the case could open the door for other jurisdictions to regulate cable "indecency". And to think this all started with Janet Jackson's nipple.

The Daily Newds

• Small town in South Dakota is not sure of how "nude" is defined.
• Sex trade shows are going mainstream and this is NOT good news for the naturism movement. While naturists are trying normalize nudidy, the porn industry is adding to the sexualization of society and is likely to provoke a moral backlash.
• It's still the Renaissance vs. Medieval Times when it comes to attitudes on nude art.
• Cape Cod residents pose for nude fundraiser calendar. ''Why should I be? It's all natural,'' said Howard Irwin of Truro, when asked whether he was at all bashful about unveiling his total self in front of strangers.
• Gretchen Mol bares all for a new film about 1950s pinup icon Bettie Page, whose image was revived in the 90s as a symbol of sex-positive feminism. The new movie directed by Mary Harron hopes to present Bettie's story in the context of the 50s and to "comment on the sad confusion surrounding sex at that time".

The Daily Newds

• Artist bakes a life sized nude bread sculpture of herself and will watch as people eat it.
• "Naked News" now has a potential US audience of 34 million and reaches 127 countries around the world. If you want to be a broadcaster you will have to pass the audition process.

The Daily Newds

• The London Free Press has an article entitled "Henderson Wholesome Despite Naked Women", referring to the nude stage presentations seen in the movie "Mrs. Henderson Presents". Now, the word "wholesome" basically means "sound, or exhibiting soundness of body and mind", but it can also mean "Promoting mental, moral, or social health" It is my contention that the movie is wholesome precisely because it has naked women, not despite the fact. The film is just OK, in my opinion, but it does promote nudity for art's sake and the women are presented on stage in a tasteful, non-sexual manner. Any nudist will tell you that there is nothing to be ashamed of when it comes to the human body, that nudity by itself is wholesome and natural, and good for maintaining a sound mind. Nudists or naturists will also tell you that being nude in social situations is healthy from both a social and moral standpoint, that overt sexual behavior is frowned upon, and social nudism also fosters harmony and friendliness among people. By all means see "Mrs. Henderson Presents" simply because it does present nudity in a wholesome manner, not despite the nude performers, but because of them.
• A Hindu Personal Law Board has offered a reward to anyone who will murder an artist who paints nudes. Another group has offered a reward for anyone who will cut off his hands. This is true, you can read the article here.
• A streaker disrupted a Curling match at the Torino Olympics. This is a good example of bad nudity.
• "Naked World", a documentary of Spencer Tunick's nude photography projects, is now available on DVD. We need more people like Tunick to portray the human body as a work of art, and not as a sexualized commodity as it is so often portrayed in popular culture.

Naturist Clubs in the News

Noah's Ark Naturist Club has been included in "Bare Britain", and encourages people curious about naturism to "give it a go". “You can be a banker or a policeman or a teacher, but when you get your kit off, you are just a human being.”

A Pennsylvania "nudist camp" has applied for a liquor license. It will be interesting to see what reasons the board comes up with to deny the request, or if fairness will be upheld.

The Daily Newds

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Kissing Banned in Wales

Well, not completely, but at least in school plays. Mark Ravenhill has written a play called "Citizenship" about teenage sexuality which is meant to allow young people to approach the subject and overcome their own puritanism. He says. "The spectacle of sex dominates our lives - but the humanity of it is absent." How true. There is no humanity in porn or sexually charged advertising, and young people are exposed to this dehumanizing process every day. I like to think that the Nudist/Naturist movement is a positive step to restoring some humanity to our lives, that to see other human beings naked and to be naked in their presence is a means to achieve a more normal and honest perception of who we all are. Ravenhill calls the Welsh Assembly "ridiculous" for banning kissing in school plays, and professes that plays such as "Citizenship" can help young people to tackle the complex emotional and physical world that surrounds them. If we continue to repress normal, healthy sexuality, then we just become more sick as a society.

Professor Joel Dorius is Dead

Most of you have probably never heard of Raymond Joel Dorius, who in the 1960s was arrested and shamed out of his job at Smith College in Massachusetts merely because he was gay and possessed nude photos of men. Dorius died Tuesday at the age of 87.

Sometimes we all need a reminder at how much progress American society has made in the last half-century, which also tells us how far we have left to go. Professor Dorius payed a dear price for his own humanity, suffering a mental breakdown before eventually clearing his name and getting on with his life, eventually teaching at San Francisco State. To criminalize human sexuality is a crime in itself. Thanks, Professor, rest in peace.

The Daily Newds

• The Cleveland Plain Dealer has published a Nude Modeling FAQ, as well as another article exposing typical myths about life drawing.
• Naker Rambler Stephen Gough is on the verge of completing his 2nd marathon walk across Great Britain. Click here to visit Gough's official web site.

Nude Dinners

If you are going to be in Edinburgh, Scotland, and you are a naturist, you might want to contact Richard and Roxanne who host nude, intimate, candlelit dinners. What a wonderful idea! What better way to shed the false facades that we all acquire and get down to some serious respect for the real persons within us all. No phony cocktail party chatter here, I'll bet. The Sunday Times Scotland has a nice article on the couple here. Do they do it for money? Absolutely not, the dinners are free after a short screening process to filter out anyone looking for sleaze. R & R are doing this strictly for the naturist cause, and for that they must be commended. R.S.V.P White tails and no ties.

Sienna Miller is Much Happier Naked

Sienna Miller says that she is much happier naked. I applaud her attitude. Granted, she is exceptionally attractive, but anyone of any age and body type can adopt this attitude. Body acceptance does not come easily to many people in this age of nip and tuck. Take off your clothes and spend some time in the nude, you will be happier, too. In a related story, Eva Green, the new "Bond Girl", says that Americans are terrified of nudity.

The Daily Newds

• A police chief in Sweden has been forced to resign after posting photos of himself in skimpy bathing trunks on a dating web site. I was under the impression that the Swedes were more progressive on issues such as this. While this article does mention that the man has children, it does not say whether he is married or not. It seems to me that the man's private life has absolutely nothing to do with his professional duties. The guy was apparently just lonely and looking for companionship. Societies MUST become more tolerant of normal human behavior, this police chief harmed no one, and now his reputation and professional career have been ruined. To be fair, all the models who posed nearly nude for the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue should all lose their jobs, too.
• Jennifer Aniston reportedly gets naked and hairless for her new film. I guess she'll lose her job and reputation, too.
• More reputations ruined. Olympic Curling athletes pose nude for calendar.
• Kansas Senate passes mother's right to breastfeed anywhere in public 39-0.
• Here's a little article on skinny dipping in Europe.
• College newspaper publishes tips on how to be happy naked.

The Daily Newds

The other day my wife and I listened to the original Broadway cast recording of "Hair". We both came to the simultaneous conclusion that the show is still vital, especially today in an era of government spying, global corporate dominance and wars of convenience. How appropriate is it that a revival of the show is taking place in Toronto and leaves open the possibility for a true resurrection of The Age of Aquarius. Galt MacDermot, one of the original creators of the show, is behind the project 100% and has approved an expansion of the original script, no doubt to make it all a bit more contemporary. The best news is that the target audience includes teenagers, who can only be inspired by the free-spirit of "Hair".

The Daily Newds

• The Vanity Fair cover with Scarlett Johansson and Keira Knightley in all their naked glory is being over-analyzed. The human body is just beautiful, let's leave it at that.
• Sex Workers Art Show gives college student a "warm feeling" and optimism about the future of the World.
• Are strippers the new "superwomen"? One writer speculates as to why women go to strip clubs.
• If Janet Jackson flashed her nipple in Italy, the people would probably yawn. Are Italians obsessed with Sex? Is the Pope German?
• Dancer Marie Chouinard is playing with the geometry of the human form. "Nude, we resemble one another," she explained...Dance, she says, is a medium that erases distinct difference.

The Daily Newds

• "The Body Familiar" is a new photographic exploration of an age-old subject: the nude. Images range from the erotic to the disturbing, but the show is designed to challenge the viewer to examine his or her own boundaries and what we expose to the world. At the Griffith Museum of Photography in Winchester, MA.
• The new Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue has hit the stands. Funny how our culture celebrates the parade of sexy and all-but-naked models yet frowns upon wholesome, natural nudity. To me the real issue here is the continuing onslaught on our perceptions of body image. While these women are certainly beautiful and I have no problem with the swimsuit issue per se, I do wish that there were more depictions of average people to provide some balance. But average just doesn't sell.
• Speaking of body image, Janet Jackson has been ordered to lose weight, or else she will be dropped by her record label. I'm not a fan of the Jacksons, but can't they just leave this woman alone? She became a symbol of immorality for the religious right when she (gasp!) exposed her nipple on national television, and she endured what had to be a personally horrifying ordeal of watching her brother brought to trial on child molestation charges. Now she puts on a few pounds and suddently she is no longer marketable. Janet, take your millions and get out of the business, then join a naturist group where you will be accepted for exactly who you are. I'll bet she looks just fine naked with a few extra pounds...
• Sleepwalking is reported to be on the rise, and nude sleepers are likely to travel farther. Unfortunately, if the naked traveler manages to wind up in an interesting place, he or she is unlikely to remember anything.
• Now this is scary. Someone is advocating for the government to seize Google's database by force in the "porno wars" for the sake of the children. I'm not a fan of pornography (naturism is truly "anti-pornography"), but I don't think it's wise so surrender our Constitutional rights. Live free or die.

The Daily Newds

• Web Site of the Day - http://hippiegoddess.com/. It's a pay site but it has a nice free sample section of tasteful, natural nudes. I didn't see anything I would label porn.
• Burlesque "boot camp" empowers women. Taking off your bra and swinging it over your head can be considered a feminist activity.
• What is pornography? This article repeatedly refers to photos of nude women as "pornography". Where is the objectivity of the reporter? Were the photos of graphic sex, or just nude or topless women? The article fails to explain. The actions of the school principal were a mistake - the sending of nude photos to faculty members during work hours is inappropriate. But pornography? I tend to doubt it, because some of the recipients were not offended. If a simple nude photo is considered porn then we are in a lot more trouble that I thought when it comes to body acceptance.
• Life Network presents documentaries on penises and breasts.

The Daily Newds

Catching up...

• A GROUP of environmentalists has demonstrated naked in front of Tasmania's Parliament House to protest against logging in the state's Weld Valley.
• Scotland to have a 90 foot nude statue.
• 60 year old woman takes her closet nudity public by posing as a life drawing model.
• Just Jared has links to all the Vanity Fair March 2006 photo spreads, including the nude Scarlett Johnassen and Keira Knightley cover.
• Javon64 poses nude for the cover of his new book. “No one should be ashamed of their body, whether fat, skinny, or otherwise. We are what we are, although I’ve still accepted the fact that some people may not be as liberated or open minded as others.”
• Skin is replacing costume as the choice for many new dance productions, a trend which may have ramifications that will last for years on dance as an art form.
• Want a unique way to share a special day? Cook naked for your Valentine.
• Another great way to spend Valentine's Day - at a clothing optional resort.
• In order to save electricity this Summer, a writer threatens to become a nudist. The comment is made in jest, but the idea is really quite good and very practical.
• A Clothing optional resort holds a strip poker tournament to get younger people interested in naturism.
• Splashing around naked in lakes is perfectly natural to most Germans.
• This article irritates me. Why should it be offensive to be nude in the locker room? I do it all the time at the Y, and so do many others, although I see many men using the privacy showers and even showering in a bathing suit. Chacun a son gout. In the article the person refers to a woman as a "borderline nudist", as if a full-fledged nudist would be completely offensive.
• Here's another irritating article, wherein the writer perpetuates the myth that one must "lose weight" to go to a "nudist colony". It's about body acceptance, stupid, not body transformation.