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Sex by numbers >> A Valentine's Day "sindex" of things bawdy and surprisingly common COMPILED by PHILIP PREVILLE and PATRICK LEJTENYI As Valentine's Day approaches, many Montrealers are hoping that Cupid will send them a dart to the heart. But for most, alas, that annoyingly coy little sonofabitch cherub will once again pass them over. Loneliness ranks right up there, alongside death and boredom, as one of life's most universal experiences. But whether lovestruck or lovelorn, companionship (and its facsimiles) comes with a price tag. Just to take some of the pink, flowery sheen off of Valentine's Day, the Mirror has compiled a "sindex" of things sappy, lurid and carnal... The hunt Number of "men seeking women" and "women seeking men" personal ads currently posted in Montreal through the Telepersonals encounter service (English and French): 7,000 Number of calls per day to Telepersonals from people responding to these personal ads: 20,000 Number of personal ads currently posted in Montreal by the Man Line gay encounter service (English and French): 1,800 Number of calls per day to the Man Line from people responding to these personal ads: 5,000 Ero-commerce Number of "établissements exploitant l'érotisme" (sex boutiques, strip clubs and peep shows) located within Montreal city limits: 42 Number of these businesses located on Ste-Catherine street between Guy and Papineau: 33 Minimum distance, in metres, between any two of these businesses, as required by City of Montreal bylaw U-1: 25
Minimum distance, in metres, between one of these businesses and any school, church or Approximate number of dildos and vibrators distributed across Canada each year by Laval-based Landco Imports, one of the country's largest distributors of erotic products: 25,000 Approximate number of blow-up dolls distributed each year by Landco: 1,000 Percentage of Landco's business that is based in Quebec: 75 Approximate dimensions of the Giant Double Dong, Landco's biggest dildo: 3 feet long and 6 inches in diameter Typical revenue breakdown for the average erotic boutique: 25% videos/magazines, 25% dildos and vibrators, 25% massage oils and gag gifts, and 25% lingerie and clothing Average purchase at an erotic boutique: $35 Number of different flavoured condoms available at La Capoterie on St-Denis: 24 Zines and screens Number of issues of Playboy distributed across Quebec and Atlantic Canada by Benjamin News, the region's largest distributor: 13,000 Penthouse: 14,000 Hustler: 7,000 Over 40: 250 Petite Cochonne: 20,000 (new title trying to flood market) Number of books in Chapters' "erotica" section: about 150 Number of erotic magazines in Chapters' newsstand: 0 Price for an all-day ticket at Cinéma L'Amour: $7.50 Number of seats in the theatre: 400 Number of double-seats reserved for couples: 17 Average daily audience: 150 Percentage of audience estimated at 65 or older: 30 Total number of adult magazine titles whose contents were reviewed by the Prohibited Importations Unit of Canada Customs between October 1 and December 31, 1998: 324 Number denied entry into Canada: 29 Total number of adult films and videos reviewed by the Prohibited Importations Unit during that same period: 97 Number denied entry into Canada: 55 Peelers and escorts Price for deli menu lunch at Wanda's: $925 Average crowd for lunch at Wanda's: 25 Price for buffet lunch at Chez Parée: free Average crowd for lunch at Chez Parée: 300 Number of escort service companies listed in the 1998-99 edition of the Montreal Yellow Pages: 31 Number of these escort service companies that were listed in the Yellow Pages five years ago: 5 Number of escort services advertised in the Classifieds section of last week's Mirror: 51 Number of these also listed in the Yellow Pages: 1 The big date Average price for a dozen red roses: $15 Approximate total amount of money Canadians will spend on flowers this Valentine's day: $50 million On flowers this coming mother's day: $100 million Approximate cost of dinner and wine for two at a decent restaurant, two movie passes, two post-movie drinks, a rose from one of those annoying street vendors, cabs and one condom from a bathroom vending machine: $151 Cost of a one-hour full-service visit to your home from an escort (male or female) supplied by any of Montreal's escort agencies: $150 Cost of a one-hour full-service visit to your home from a street prostitute: $100 Cost of a blowjob in your car courtesy of a street prostitute: $30 Number of prostitution-related arrests made by MUC police in 1997: 651 Cost of a private dance at Chez Parée or Club 281: $20 Price for 20 minutes in a private peep-show booth: $5 Cost of an adult video rental at the La Cité Movieland: $4 Number of titles to choose from: 750 Percentage of titles intended for a gay audience: 10
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