LDS Freedom Forum

Col. Flagg wrote:Why do people go into law?

Power.

Col. Flagg wrote:Sadly, this has become the case with LDS members involved in the selling and/or distribution of porn… ‘hey, it’s legal, and those who do it are making their own choice’, therefore, it’s OK’. If you’re a member of the church and can live with being dishonest in your dealings with your fellow men as long as you’re making a bunch of money or engaging in earning a living by peddling smut, more power to you – just remember what is going to happen though to those who have been entering the temple unworthily and the parable of the wheat and tares.

It's kind of like the Amish. They technically shouldn't be doing business with the Gentiles, however they do because thier needs to survive have changed. They've found a way to justify it. Some even go to work for the Gentiles. I imagine people who do this type of questionable "business" justify to themselves that it's survival. Reality is it takes money to live. How one goes about gaining that money is another thing all in itself.

sadie_Mormon wrote:

Col. Flagg wrote:Sadly, this has become the case with LDS members involved in the selling and/or distribution of porn… ‘hey, it’s legal, and those who do it are making their own choice’, therefore, it’s OK’. If you’re a member of the church and can live with being dishonest in your dealings with your fellow men as long as you’re making a bunch of money or engaging in earning a living by peddling smut, more power to you – just remember what is going to happen though to those who have been entering the temple unworthily and the parable of the wheat and tares.

It's kind of like the Amish. They technically shouldn't be doing business with the Gentiles, however they do because thier needs to survive have changed. They've found a way to justify it. Some even go to work for the Gentiles. I imagine people who do this type of questionable "business" justify to themselves that it's survival. Reality is it takes money to live. How one goes about gaining that money is another thing all in itself.

I agree yet I will bet many of the people who defend the practice of facilitating the distribution of porn would have harsh comments for a young 18 year old LDS girl who might not get along with her family, can't find work, can't get a grant for college so becomes a stripper or takes part in some pornographic movies.

sadie_Mormon wrote:

Col. Flagg wrote:Sadly, this has become the case with LDS members involved in the selling and/or distribution of porn… ‘hey, it’s legal, and those who do it are making their own choice’, therefore, it’s OK’. If you’re a member of the church and can live with being dishonest in your dealings with your fellow men as long as you’re making a bunch of money or engaging in earning a living by peddling smut, more power to you – just remember what is going to happen though to those who have been entering the temple unworthily and the parable of the wheat and tares.

It's kind of like the Amish. They technically shouldn't be doing business with the Gentiles, however they do because thier needs to survive have changed. They've found a way to justify it. Some even go to work for the Gentiles. I imagine people who do this type of questionable "business" justify to themselves that it's survival. Reality is it takes money to live. How one goes about gaining that money is another thing all in itself.

There are still myriads of ways to make a living in this world and not be involved in receiving blood money. To me it comes down to faith. Faith that if we do what right the Lord will bless us. Do what is right let the consequence follow.

Col. Flagg wrote:This discussion is somewhat reminiscient of the same problem I believe Attorneys have – can an LDS member be an Attorney and still answer in the affirmative that they are honest in their dealings with their fellow men?

Unfortunately the same can be said for just about every industry, including health care. My industry certainly isn't immune either.

p51-mustang wrote:Good point. My uncle is well to do and has ran businesses. Hes a millionaire. Does anyone know of any teachings from lds leaders that condemn "blood money" profits?

I remember a statement about President Benson at that time when he was an apostle he was in the Dept of Agriculture heading in that dept. Well each month the dept would have a party at each others home and they would provide liquor and ashtrays for their co-workers. Well President Benson ask them if they would provide a bowl that would have lemonade in it. The members obliged but when it was time for President Benson's turn to host the party he would go out and buy liquor and ashtrays for the co-workers. Well this may surprise some members but he did and when the co-workers showed up not one liquor was used and ashtrays filled. So yes even we have our own choices to make but we need to let them make their choices as well.

shadow wrote:

Col. Flagg wrote:This discussion is somewhat reminiscient of the same problem I believe Attorneys have – can an LDS member be an Attorney and still answer in the affirmative that they are honest in their dealings with their fellow men?

Unfortunately the same can be said for just about every industry, including health care. My industry certainly isn't immune either.

You have to draw the line somewhere Shadow. I guess the question is, where do you draw the line? My answer would be that an industry whos product is immoral and has no beneficial use, we should stay away from said industry (porn, liquor, tobacco, gambling) Industries like health care do some dishonest things but they also provide some valuable service. Working for healthcare who may be doing dishonest things does not taint those who work there unless they participate in the dishonesty.

jcricket6048 wrote:

p51-mustang wrote:Good point. My uncle is well to do and has ran businesses. Hes a millionaire. Does anyone know of any teachings from lds leaders that condemn "blood money" profits?

I remember a statement about President Benson at that time when he was an apostle he was in the Dept of Agriculture heading in that dept. Well each month the dept would have a party at each others home and they would provide liquor and ashtrays for their co-workers. Well President Benson ask them if they would provide a bowl that would have lemonade in it. The members obliged but when it was time for President Benson's turn to host the party he would go out and buy liquor and ashtrays for the co-workers. Well this may surprise some members but he did and when the co-workers showed up not one liquor was used and ashtrays filled. So yes even we have our own choices to make but we need to let them make their choices as well.

I dont believe this story. Do you have a reference? ETB going to a liquor store? So much for avoiding the appearance of evil eh?...

D&C 86:1
1 Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you my servants, concerning the parable of the wheat and of the tares:

D&C 86:2
2 Behold, verily I say, the field was the world, and the apostles were the sowers of the seed;

D&C 86:3
3 And after they have fallen asleep the great persecutor of the church, the apostate, the whore, even Babylon, that maketh all nations to drink of her cup, in whose hearts the enemy, even Satan, sitteth to reign--behold he soweth the tares; wherefore, the tares choke the wheat and drive the church into the wilderness.

This is just one issue, there are many. But remember---
Amos 5:13
13 Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it [is] an evil time.

gr8ideas wrote:D&C 86:1
1 Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you my servants, concerning the parable of the wheat and of the tares:

D&C 86:2
2 Behold, verily I say, the field was the world, and the apostles were the sowers of the seed;

D&C 86:3
3 And after they have fallen asleep the great persecutor of the church, the apostate, the whore, even Babylon, that maketh all nations to drink of her cup, in whose hearts the enemy, even Satan, sitteth to reign--behold he soweth the tares; wherefore, the tares choke the wheat and drive the church into the wilderness.

This is just one issue, there are many. But remember---
Amos 5:13
13 Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it [is] an evil time.

I have some thoughts about these scriptures. Care to elaborate on these gr8ideas?

p51-mustang wrote:

jcricket6048 wrote:

p51-mustang wrote:Good point. My uncle is well to do and has ran businesses. Hes a millionaire. Does anyone know of any teachings from lds leaders that condemn "blood money" profits?

I remember a statement about President Benson at that time when he was an apostle he was in the Dept of Agriculture heading in that dept. Well each month the dept would have a party at each others home and they would provide liquor and ashtrays for their co-workers. Well President Benson ask them if they would provide a bowl that would have lemonade in it. The members obliged but when it was time for President Benson's turn to host the party he would go out and buy liquor and ashtrays for the co-workers. Well this may surprise some members but he did and when the co-workers showed up not one liquor was used and ashtrays filled. So yes even we have our own choices to make but we need to let them make their choices as well.

I dont believe this story. Do you have a reference? ETB going to a liquor store? So much for avoiding the appearance of evil eh?...

Yeah, how dare ETB socialize with the sinners! Why would he think that's acceptable! He should have listened to the pharisees instead of following the Lords example. 8-|

mark 2:15-17

15 And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.

16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with apublicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?

17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are awhole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Yeah, how dare ETB socialize with the sinners! Why would he think that's acceptable! He should have listened to the pharisees instead of following the Lords example.

mark 2:15-17

15 And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.

16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with apublicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?

17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are awhole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

I never said ETB shouldnt associate with sinners Rensai! I said I have a hard time believing that ETB would drive to a liquor store and purchase a bunch of booze for an event at his home. Big difference there my friend. You should read things more closely!

p51-mustang wrote:

Yeah, how dare ETB socialize with the sinners! Why would he think that's acceptable! He should have listened to the pharisees instead of following the Lords example.

mark 2:15-17

15 And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.

16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with apublicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?

17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are awhole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

I never said ETB shouldnt associate with sinners Rensai! I said I have a hard time believing that ETB would drive to a liquor store and purchase a bunch of booze for an event at his home. Big difference there my friend. You should read things more closely!

You said it yourself. He was having an event at his home... aka... socializing with sinners. There is no difference that I can see.

jnjnelson wrote:

chasetafer0707 wrote:… I personally feel it would be wrong to profit from pornography, but those who are on any hotel board of directors have to make that decision for themselves. Obviously God does have an opinion, but it's not for me to dictate that to someone else.

I couldn't have said it better myself. I think this video is applicable to most of this thread.

I find it abhorrant that someone would invoke the Saviors words, uttered by a living prophet, to justify selling pornography

If you are prepared to offer EXACTLY the same rights of "its in the Playboy contract to supply pornography" to Hugh Heffner, I will accept this youtube
If you are prepared to offer EXACTLY the same rights of "its in the Hustler contract to supply pornography" to Larry Flynt, I will accept this youtube

This thread has to go back to the Marriott Porn thread- it has all been covered, including the very CONTRACT and reasons WHY he and the board of directors provide it, no, sorry, why they PUSH it

We are told to remove ourselves from Babylon, leave ourselves unspotted from the world.
We are told the Rich man will not inherit heaven

And then we name business schools at The Lords very University, an insitution of higher learning, after PEOPLE

Luke is right. utterly disgusting.

Rombey was on the board of directors
He coould have done 2 things
Demanded a renegotiated contract
Resign

The excuses people make for these compromised businessmen are just pathetic

shadow wrote:Unfortunately the same can be said for just about every industry, including health care. My industry certainly isn't immune either.

I think you are right. The problem is inherent in the system of "industry" that we find ourselves in. Zion is primarily an agrarian society in which each person provides for his own needs. King Mosiah exemplified this principle, and the Hopi Indians perpetuate it today. Babylon is inherently a society of specialization in which careerism dominates, and therefore people sell themselves for money (temple?) in order to survive. I believe it is Hugh Nibley (although it could be Avraham Gileadi) who identifies Babylon as an inverted pyramid in which the many depend upon the few for the necessities of life. The rest of us are just doping around in the stock market, speculation, career culture, which may be our ultimate undoing as a society and as individuals. How stable is an upside down pyramid? Therefore, he identifies that at the pinnacle of Babylon's reign it is least stable.

Contrast this picture with the description of the Lord's plan that we find in Christ's sermon on the mount and at Bountiful. He instructs us to be as the lilies of the field, which depend upon God's grace for their clothing and sustenance. Zion trusts God to make it rain and to provide a good crop. Babylon trusts the arm of flesh--the Federal Reserve throwing money at every problem in a wildly out of control attempt to "stabilize the pyramid."

In the temple, how is Adam found worthy of receiving true messengers? He does not sell precious things for money. As we seek careers, do we sell anything for money? What does this suggest that these tokens and signs we carry might represent? Have we sold ourselves to Babylon? Have we disobeyed the commandment to eat by the sweat of our brow? We are tied to this failing system, which is waiting to fall. Hopefully our covenants are still intact. How do we escape?

The scriptures prophecy that "1 But, behold, in the last days, or in the days of the Gentiles—yea, behold all the nations of the Gentiles and also the Jews, both those who shall come upon this land and those who shall be upon other lands, yea, even upon all the lands of the earth, behold, they will be drunken with iniquity and all manner of abominations—

2 And when that day shall come they shall be visited of the Lord of Hosts, with thunder and with earthquake, and with a great noise, and with storm, and with tempest, and with the flame of devouring fire" (2 Nephi 27:1-2).

So, Babylon is EVERYWHERE. Where is Zion? How can we find it? How can we get ourselves out of this mess? I really don't know. Do we flee? But where would we flee too? Babylon's reach covers "all the lands of the earth." It really is a suffocating feeling. I think we will have to wait upon the Lord to deliver us as He did Moses and Israel from Egypt. We must be watchful, that we might recognize the call. We must be ever careful not to sell ourselves for money. That is the wisdom of a consecrated heart. This type of heart can leave everything at a moment's notice and flee to Zion.

If anyone recognized the "inverted pyramid" reference and can tell me where I read it, please do.

p51-mustang wrote:

jcricket6048 wrote:

p51-mustang wrote:Good point. My uncle is well to do and has ran businesses. Hes a millionaire. Does anyone know of any teachings from lds leaders that condemn "blood money" profits?

I remember a statement about President Benson at that time when he was an apostle he was in the Dept of Agriculture heading in that dept. Well each month the dept would have a party at each others home and they would provide liquor and ashtrays for their co-workers. Well President Benson ask them if they would provide a bowl that would have lemonade in it. The members obliged but when it was time for President Benson's turn to host the party he would go out and buy liquor and ashtrays for the co-workers. Well this may surprise some members but he did and when the co-workers showed up not one liquor was used and ashtrays filled. So yes even we have our own choices to make but we need to let them make their choices as well.

I dont believe this story. Do you have a reference? ETB going to a liquor store? So much for avoiding the appearance of evil eh?...

I do not think he went to the store to get liquor but I think he got from a friend who did it for him. But I will see if I can find this reference.

Matthew 5:16

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Examples:
Does the Marriott follow this mandate?

Does a member of the church owning a small mom and pop grocery store and selling porno follow this mandate?

I think, however, for someone working in a Casino for their livelihood, living a clean life, being an example of goodness does follow this mandate. I think there are several members in Vegas, for one, doing just that.

chasetafer0707 wrote:I believe it is Hugh Nibley (although it could be Avraham Gileadi) who identifies Babylon as an inverted pyramid in which the many depend upon the few for the necessities of life.

Avraham Gileadi, Last Days, p.40-41

"The prestige of idols furnished made people protective of the system. Those who prospered from it had found a niche. Their real source of subsistence, farming and husbandry, took second place in society. People measured wealth in moony and the idols money could buy rather than in how much food or other commodities could be produced.

"We can thus liken Babylon's socioeconomic structure to an upside-down pyramid, which, as it grows, ever narrows at its base. In it the many depend on the few for their support. Babylon's mass of people, engaged in producing and selling idols, remain out of touch with their life source, rendering them vulnerable to catastrophe. The greatest height to which Babylon attains is thus also her lowest point of stability. For when, through some unforeseen (divine) intervention, a single stone jars from the base, the entire structure collapses."

jcricket6048 wrote:

p51-mustang wrote:Good point. My uncle is well to do and has ran businesses. Hes a millionaire. Does anyone know of any teachings from lds leaders that condemn "blood money" profits?

I remember a statement about President Benson at that time when he was an apostle he was in the Dept of Agriculture heading in that dept. Well each month the dept would have a party at each others home and they would provide liquor and ashtrays for their co-workers. Well President Benson ask them if they would provide a bowl that would have lemonade in it. The members obliged but when it was time for President Benson's turn to host the party he would go out and buy liquor and ashtrays for the co-workers. Well this may surprise some members but he did and when the co-workers showed up not one liquor was used and ashtrays filled. So yes even we have our own choices to make but we need to let them make their choices as well.

What makes this most distasteful is that I personally know of one man who was excommunicated because he opened a pub / restaurant. The SP gave him the choice: your membership of the pub. He chose the pub. Now we have GA's that are pimping on the profits of the silver screen prostitute. Welcome to the latter day apostasy. But heck, we all raised our hands to sustain that Marriott character -- did we not?

As for your uncle, we are told that it is easier for a camel through the eye of the needle than a rich man to get into the kingdom of heaven. Period.

Your uncle is lost, but sadly, his attitude is more the norm than not.

Just a little reminder: This is not some trivial matter that is going to go away once this thread gets old. Mitt Romney is going to get the nomination. Every detail of his life will be under a microscope. This will bring this whole issue into national spotlight. If some mean little man like Newt Gingrich is willing to make Mitt's dog on the roof incident an issue just think what the people wanting to re-elect Obama will do with this issue.

The support for Marriott's and others' profane business practices on this thread is appalling.

Revelation 18:4

And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

freedomfighter wrote:Matthew 5:16

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Examples:
Does the Marriott follow this mandate?

Does a member of the church owning a small mom and pop grocery store and selling porno follow this mandate?

I think, however, for someone working in a Casino for their livelihood, living a clean life, being an example of goodness does follow this mandate. I think there are several members in Vegas, for one, doing just that.

Hmm, not sure I agree with the Casino employee anymore
Having seen Vegas, I actually don't understand how anyone would even bring their kids up there.
There must be some very good people there tho because tehre can be NO other reason the lord has not opened the earth and swallowed it into the earth
Cleaning the carpets in a casino, it is any different than being the croupier?
Or any different than working in the psychological profiling division
Is working fo a casino any different than printing the disks for Porn DVD's,
Is workign in the security room on a casino and different than standing behind the camera and filming the porn?
numberluss analogies can be made on both of those

i am heartened that this thread contains few "we dont know his heart, we don't know the contract" posts, and people are prepared to say what it is

Just to let you know, after teaching the youth to avoid Porn next sunday (because it is so bad of course), I am going to open a family oriented sports web site, where 2/rds will be devoted to sports articles and 1/3rd of it will be devoted to pay-per-view porn which they can access

Why?

1) its legal
2) I work for a company (sure its my company and i own it) and the obligation is to make money for its shareholders (sure my family owns 90% of the stock)
3) The people who come to my web site want it
4) I signed a contract to supply porn via my web site. And a contract is a contract is a contract

This is a business decision, not a moral one

Don't worry. i'll have a link to the church web site so that people who come here know I am LDS and can access some wholesome materials. I'll even hyperlink to the Book of Mormon to show how important the gospel is to our company

(anyone spot the irony here)

OMNI HOTELS REMOVES ADULT MOVIES FROM GUEST ROOM TELEVISIONS

IRVING, Texas (Nov. 5, 1999) - Omni Hotels announced today that it would be removing adult pay-per-view movies from its guest room televisions. The privately held company expects to have its current movie service provider removed from the majority ofit's hotels by June 2000. Remaining hotels will be eliminating the service as their vending contracts expire. The decision to remove the adult pay-per-view movies was morally and conscionably driven by the company's ownership in response to what it perceives as a growing need for corporate America to support pro-family issues.

Peter Strebel, Omni Hotels vice president of marketing, says the company's "pro-family" stance regarding its business operations was in direct conflict with the movieservice. "Money is not the issue in this matter," says Strebel. "Not all business decisions should be fiscally driven. We believe that this is the right thing to do; the right thing for Omni Hotels, our associates and our customers."

The anticipated loss in revenue demonstrates the company's commitment to the issue. Omni Hotels has already removed adult magazines from the gift shops at its owned and managed properties.
http://www.omnihotels.com/AboutOmniHote" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... lease.aspx


As a result, Omni went to work several years ago to remove the adult channels and movies networked into its rooms. "It was actually more difficult than we anticipated. There was a lot of profit in those movies," Omni Vice President for Marketing Peter Strebel tells Insight. And the entertainment companies that provide the movie channels for hotels were not interested in offering a system for Omni that excluded porn, fearing a dip in profits. "After heavy negotiations we did find a company," says Strebel, striking a deal with LodgeNet, which agreed to exclude the adult channels they offer in other hotels. By shutting out the pornographic movies, the Omni chain of 80 hotels was able to add to its family movie offerings -- and has in fact experienced an increase in movie-rental profits.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... _72273779/


Hotel chains such as Marriott and Hilton earn about $190 million per year from in-room payper- view porn videos.7 “f you go to a businessman’s hotel, you’ll see a very high percentage of adult programming. In fact, it probably generates 80 percent of the profits of that system. … The hotel operator keeps 5 percent to 10 percent of that revenue for himself, and remits the rest to the LodgeNet or the On Command [companies that provide pay-per-view service to the hotel industry].”8 According to The New Wall Street, “ased on estimates provided by the hotel industry, at least half of all guests buy adult movies. Hotels such as Marriott, Hilton, Sheraton, etc., all offer in-room adult pay-per-view movies.”9 “Estimates by analysts cited in the Los Angeles Times suggest that adult features generate approximately half of total hotel pay-per-view revenue in the United States, approximately $250 million annually.”10

The mainstreaming of pornography has adversely impacted obscenity prosecution. In 2001, a Provo, Utah, video storeowner was prosecuted for peddling obscenity. The defense attorney discovered that the Provo Marriott offered pay-per-view sex videos and sells 3,000 a year. He then discovered that Provo’s local cable TV and satellite TV companies distribute 20,000 X-rated movies a year.

While porn is offered at most Marriott hotels, calls to Marriotts in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, revealed that most do not offer “adult” pay-per-view. Maybe Mormon owner Bill Marriott knows that “Kinky Kouples Sex Games,” which was listed on the “adult” menu at the Covington, Kentucky, Marriott on August 29, 2002, won’t play well near church headquarters.

With the help of veteran porn-fighters Phil and Vickie Burress of Citizens for Community Values in Cincinnati, Ohio, a guest of the Marriott Hotel Northeast in Mason, Ohio, filed an obscenity complaint with the local prosecutor. The hotel ceased making “adult menu” pay-per-view selections available to guests after the hotel was advised by the Warren County, Ohio, prosecutor
that, in his opinion, some of the video offerings are prosecutable under Ohio’s obscenity law. William O’Brien, attorney for the hotel, responded in a letter made public:

After reviewing the matter, we think, at the present time, the appropriate decision for our Hotel is simply to not make available to customers the movies that would be found in the adult menu. Please note, we are not able to remove the adult menu (thus the titles of the movie will appear). We can, will, and have modified the system, however, so that no movies listed under the adult menu will be shown.

A few hotel chains, such as the Omni, have placed principle above the bottom line: Even with the lure of big profits, the privately held Omni decided to stop offering pornography from its entertainment system. ‘As a father of two sons, I was uncomfortable with the late-night entertainment available,’ says Omni’s owner and chairman, Bob Rowling. ‘We didn’t want to generate revenue on pornography.’
http://www.cwfa.org/images/content/wcp-report.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


TUPELO, Miss. - Several conservative groups, including the American Family Association, are asking Marriott International Inc. to stop giving hotel guests the option of ordering pay-per-view movies with strong sexual content.
http://www.bostonherald.com/business/ge" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... id=1086346


Marriott executives met in May with officials of two high-profile groups, the American Family Association and Focus on the Family. But the chain can't simply pull the plug on porn, said company spokesman Roger Conner.

Like most hotel groups, Marriott owns only a handful of the 3,000 properties operating under its various brands. Individual hotels contract with the chain's video provider, LodgeNet Interactive Corp., which typically installs equipment for free and gives the hotel 10 percent of movie fees.

Tampa-based McKibbon Hotel Management doesn't allow porn in its properties. If McKibbon picks up a client whose hotel sells sex movies, the company negotiates with the entertainment vendor to remove them. For CEO John McKibbon, it's about right and wrong.

"If I had a daughter working the front desk, I wouldn't want to subject her to selling that,'' said McKibbon, a church deacon whose Web site's welcome message cites a New Testament passage. "We may lose some business, but we don't market that kind of product.''

So far, Marriott has agreed only to talk with LodgeNet and hotel owners about one issue: adding safeguards to keep children from seeing sex movies. Now, parents can block adult programs with the remote control or call the front desk to do it.

Just how much money isn't clear. Pay-per-view porn in hotels and private homes — on cable TV, satellite and closed-circuit systems — rang up $1.7-billion in sales in 2006, according to the newsletter Adult Entertainment News.

Hotels say they don't break out revenues for adult movies. Neither does LodgeNet, which is in 9,900 properties with 1.9-million rooms. That represents nearly 40 percent of all rooms in North America and 54 percent of those in midsize and large hotels.

The public company's latest earnings report suggests annual revenues of roughly $370-million from mainstream Hollywood films and porn. Company officials say only 1 percent of revenues comes from adult fare. Industry observers estimate that porn sales in hotels are much higher.

"If you go to a businessman's hotel, you'll see a very high percentage of adult programming,'' said entertainment analyst Dennis McAlpine in a 2002 story on the porn business by the PBS program Frontline. "It probably generates 80 percent of the profits of that system.''

At the Courtyard by Marriott near Tampa's West Shore district, guests can choose from 53 "adult only'' titles, including .... Prices run from $12.99 to $16.99.

Hotels can take LodgeNet's programming without the hard stuff. Marriott's new chain of kid-friendly Nickelodeon Resorts will be free of adult movies when the first opens in San Diego in 2010.

Omni Hotels, a chain of 40 hotels, cited support for "pro-family issues'' when it decided to drop sex movies in 1999. President Jim Caldwell told the New York Times that the move would cost the chain, based near Dallas, more than $1.8-million a year.

But since then, Omni hasn't noticed a big drop in movie revenue, said spokeswoman Caryn Kboudi. "Generally speaking, people just shifted to something else,'' she said.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/article717985.ece" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Why do I Blog....by Bill Marriott, Chairman and CEO of Marriott International
http://www.blogs.marriott.com/personal/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... tem=665191

.................There's been a lot of talk and coverage recently about a fellow CEO online who was posting some not-so-nice stuff about his competition. It seems that today, the business world is becoming much more transparent, thanks in large part to the Internet.

All this got me thinking, "Why do I blog?" Well, I've been doing it now for six months and I've found it's a great learning experience and I've had a lot of fun doing it. I'm sure you probably have learned a lot about me. I do value family, work and community, and I'm not afraid to tackle controversial topics such as reforming our immigration policy or putting our non-smoking policy in our hotels in the United States and Canada. I like to talk about good news, but I'm not afraid to talk about the bad news, such as my blog about the bombing of our Islamabad hotel.

Businesses must have values and I've tried to communicate some of ours in my blog. We certainly do have a growing commitment to saving the environment. Many of you offered praise in your comments; others want us to do even more.

Sometimes I've asked others to communicate the company's values on the blog. It was wonderful to read the comments about Valerie McSwain. She's the concierge at the Washington, D.C. Marriott who was supporting her family on welfare before she got an opportunity with us. She's a superstar. Education and diversity are also very important values for our company.

When your family's name is on the building or you are the person clearly identified with the company, everything you say or do affects the business, good or bad. In this fascinating information age, you certainly have to be transparent.

I'm Bill Marriott and thanks for helping me keep Marriott on the move.