The Daily Newds 2/24/09

• If politicians worked on every issue with the same fervor they use in battling strip clubs, all our problems would be over.
• In Qatar, a glimpse of stocking is still looked on as something shocking.
• With a sign that reads "Over 18 only", a topless coffee shop finally opened in Vassalboro, Maine.
• Painting nude Carnival models is certainly the best job in Brazil, and Betto Almeida is Mr. Lucky.

  Sweat on his brow, he said the hard work is worth it. A modeling agency that employs the women pays him $1,000 for the roughly two hours it takes to paint each model. During the samba parades, he paints two women a night. And in a typical year will paint a minimum of 50 women for various events.

• Here's another article on Orlando's Nude Nite.

  In addition to nude paintings, nude sculptures, nude photography, fine art, metal and abstracts, there will be tongue-in-cheek burlesque shows, live models posing for do-it-your-self sketches, actors that create "living sculptures," body painters, and nude art that makes political and social statements on a wide range of issues from climate change to nuclear weapons.

• Nude bungee jumpers in Canada raised nearly $6,000 for schizophrenia society.
• An Englishman discovers the serenity of a hot-spring resort in Japan.

  The Japanese talk of the "naked communion" of the onsen. They know they are a hierarchical and hidebound society, beset with formality and ritual, and the onsen is an attempt to address and break down the barriers. Naked, all are equal. And it works.

• Forty-something women are finding more acceptance in Rio's Carnival.

  "It's a huge change," Luiza Brunet, 46, told The Associated Press as she prepared for her showcase role in the Imperatiz samba school's parade. "It shows that women who are more mature are gaining space in a country with so much machismo, where we give more value to youth and beauty."
  
  Psychologist Enaile Ortiz - herself 48 - agreed.
  
  "Brazil has always had this understanding that youth equals beauty, but this year's Carnival is breaking that paradigm," Ortiz said as she strolled down Ipanema beach. "This shows you can be in a beautiful state, no matter what stage of life you are in."

• The Dartford Warbler could prove to be the factor which saves a nudist beach from development.
• A Utah professional photographer was sentenced to 240 days in jail for taking nude photos of his girlfriend and a 17 year-old girl who misrepresented her age.