Is jute coming back? An LA Times article says India hopes to make it the ancient textile of the future.
"Now India is betting that jute — an ancient textile whose harvesting and production have scarcely been touched by modern technology — could be a fabric of the future.
Amid a global push to reduce the use of plastic for environmental reasons, India is promoting jute — better known in the United States as the fiber used in burlap — as a material for reusable shopping bags, home furnishings, clothing, even diapers and women’s sanitary pads.
Indian officials tout the humble fiber’s eco-friendly qualities. Extracted from the bark of a tall, reedy plant, jute requires less water than cotton and almost no pesticides, absorbs more carbon dioxide for its size than most trees, and is totally biodegradable."
Modern World: Galveston Man Booked A Prostitute – And She Turned Out To Be His Wife
"She was furious to learn her husband had been hiring sex workers, although he was equally angry to learn his wife had been freelancing as a prostitute."Unfortunately, the article didn't answer all my questions. Did they have sex in the motel? Did she get paid? Sounds like they didn't since other guests at the motel complained about "the disturbance." But the that's not clear. The last line of the article says:
"The husband may now face charges under tough Texas prostitution laws, which make it illegal to engage in any type of sexual activity in exchange for money or some other form of compensation – even if it is with one’s own spouse. "I'm not sure why I think this is worth mentioning. I can't quite articulate it yet, but this seems to be a story that tells a lot about modern United States life and culture. Or maybe it's a broader theme - about humanity in general. I'm sure someone could create a profound movie around this headline.
