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April 21, 2008 |
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Tarts in the Neighbourhood
FOUND by Fiona Wright
in New Zealand
We found this notice in our letterbox yesterday and thought it was rather amusing!
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Metro Wheel July 16, 2005 |
Cartweels October 24, 2004 |
The Final Word... March 13, 2006 |
Ancient VIVI July 24, 2007 |
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We collect FOUND stuff: love letters, birthday cards, kids' homework,
to-do lists, ticket stubs, poetry on napkins, telephone bills, doodles -
anything that gives a glimpse into someone
else's life. Anything goes...
mmmmmm...tarts....
Get over yourself, Neighbor. You didn't even know the "tarts" were there until someone told you. You're just mad because you're having a hard time selling your house.
And while I'm still here, let me be the first to say, "Fiona found this in her letterbox?!!? WTF?!"
Prostitutes's heaven?
"Daddy, teacher says that every time a car honks, a prostitute gets her wings!"
"That's right, Zuzu. That's right."
Tarts? Really? That's an odd choice of words... haha!
Anyway, I agree with Ghost, he/she didn't even know they were there until recently, so obviously it's not that prevalent of a situation.
And brothels and prostitution are illegal (except parts of NV), so I hardly think they are "allowed" to have one or to have the girls residing nearby... Also, why does that mean that there's an "immigration racket"? They can't be just regular Asian-American prostitutes?
And lastly, I love how he proposed that they "take action" but didn't specify ANY way in which that was to be done... No petitions or anything, lol.
BTW, Chicazarca, they're in New Zealand, not the USA. Explaining the use of the words "tart" and "letterbox."
Fiona is in New Zealand, so the laws of the United States don't apply.
i love how the writer is acting like he just found out. i bet asian heaven is his second home. (assuming the writer is a he)
calm down and let the asians do their thang!
This was written about a week before the Croc Hunter met his demise. Mere coincidence? I think not.
I'm confused.... what does The Australian Croc Hunter have to do with New Zealand prostitutes? We are actually different countries, separated by an entire ocean...Comparing us and suggesting we are one and the same is even wierder than saying the US and Cananda are the same country....WTF do they teach in geography in the US?
PS @ hmmmmmm, are you suggesting that because there are prostitutes in New Zealand Stingrays are magically protesting by killing an Australian?
Oooh, we're brave enough to denounce the problem (if there is one) but not brave enough to sign, not even "a true friend" which is the official signature of all anonymous letters!
I disagree that the writer is male. The anonymous poison-pen letter is the female weapon of choice for a certain type of pussyfooting, uptight female of a certain age. Like the Internet flame, the anonymous letter gives the writer an enormous sense of power combined with safety..."No one will know it was me!" while they sit back and watch the fun they stirred up.
All you have to do is look for which houses are "for sale" in the area and you've got your passive-agressive letter writer.
I agree with Ghost, and with basil. Definitely a woman who's irritated she can't sell her house.
http://www.asianhaven.co.nz/
Just went to the website...
"Here's a photo of an unmade bed next to a television."
"Here's another photo of an unmade bed."
Ew. And ick.
But what I really want to know is - is it in a discreet location?
hahahaha baby basil said 'pussy footing'. Is that on the list of specialities?
Wow, if it's that easy to find the website, why doesn't the writer just walk over to 10 Milward st and complain?! There's even a map on the website so they won't get lost! Or, since it seems like s/he isn't really into the whole confrontation thing, they could even call, since the phone number is also on the website. But, unfortunately for them, prostitution and brothel keeping are legal in New Zealand (thanks wikipedia!), so I don't think they have any legitimate way of making the "tarts" leave.
"I say we should burn them out, now who's with me?!
Burn them, burn them, burn them!"
I can't believe that this neighbour didn't know there was a brothel in their hood, especially when s/he later states she witnessed all the asian tarts, etc.
Also, LOL @ "pussyfooting." I used to know this girl who was unsure of her sexuality. Her friends wanted her to be straight for whatever reason and told her that lesbians put their feet in each others vaginas. I then told her that was where the term "pussyfooting" came from.
Wonder where this notice has been and why itsuddenly appeared in somebody's letterbox two years down the road. We are in 2008, aren't we?
The hour is a much better deal.
I agree with Effie. We should do WHAT EVER it takes to get these Asian tarts out of here. Effie, you grab the matches and I'll grab the torches and we'll meet over by Asian Heaven.
Way to sweep over the likely sex trafficking going on at 'Asian Heaven'.
What's the going price?(For the house) Sure, sure, for the house. Wink wink, nudge nudge.
@ Australian, yes they do teach us geography here, but only a few of us choose to learn it.
This find is strange. It starts out kind of like this person knows what they are talking about and then turns into a weird prostitute ridden grammar mess.
I think it's quite terrifying that nobody's mentioned the exploitation that's going down in this neighborhood. When you take "Asian immigrants," add "brothels," and divide by "relatively wealthy country," the outcome rarely fails to equal anything short of "women (sometimes children, too) being bought and sold and/or duped into other countries to 'work'. It's a monstrous, bloody racket, and I fear for the girls that nobody's seen fit to even mention it at this distance.
Btw, Basil - There's a type of man that writes this kind of letter, too. My uncle's one; he sits around, reading crazy websites and the local newspaper until he finds something ridiculous to complain about, then sends in letters to the editor and goes to the city council meetings to petition about. Often they're things like this.
the white sheets are comforting because you could *tell* if they hadn't been changed...now if they had satiny red or black... ew.
locally, our prostitutes hang out in the walmart parking lot, so you have to park close to the door or a cart-go-back in order to avoid them. i imagine they haven't sheets at all, just minivans. or the abandoned grocery next door. ew. ew. ew.
Haa! Jan cracked me up. It does seem the writer's only issue is selling the house though. If he or she cared about the immigration issue they'd do something about that.
Oops.
Wrye, I never heard of a cart-go-back. Cool word. Is that one of those corrals where you're supposed to put your shopping cart when you're done shopping? (In France, you deposit a coin to release the cart and it's refunded when you return it, like in the US for luggage carts at the airport. Works great.)
I never go to walmart, not because of prostitutes, but because of the abandoned stores they create in the neighborhood. Did someone say walmart is bad for local businesses? Hmm, sounds like at least one local business is booming BECAUSE of walmart.
Australian,
I'm not exactly sure whether they teach geography any longer here in the States. Last year I asked my ninth graders which country they would rule, if they could rule any country in the world. I received the following questions:
-Is Rome a country?
-Is Kansas a country?
-Is Iraq a country?
Who knows there may be some lonely young man that "Asian Heaven" may be a selling point. You have to know your market. Get out there and sell that house next to the den of tarts you never noticed!
isn't it slightly weird that they recieved this in their letterbox yesterday, yet it is dated for 2006? either 1)new zealanders do their dates even sillier than americans 2) found has a really long delay on their founds or 3)the person who wrote this is stuck in the past. either way, good find!
Did you notice on the web site it's 'Asian Haven' not heaven? Perhaps it's NOT a brothel - but instead a place for the young Asian girls to seek refuge. hahahahaha! Yeah, right.
Relax. We havnen't entered a time warp, or fractured the space-time continuum.
Sometimes it takes two, even three years for a submitted Find to make it to its exalted place at Find of the Day. So when Fiona submitted this (*ahem*) "Find" and wrote her Finder's Blurb, it was probably the day after the missive arrived in her letterbox.
I don't think anyone mentioned (or is debating) the possible human trafficking/sex slave trade here because this is not actually a "forum" for such debate. It's a comment board, where lots of people actually come for a laugh or two, and to seek refuge from their otherwise (select your adjective and insert here) lives. There are countless arenas, both online and IRL, for those big, weighty issues.
How come all the good neighborhoods are so far away?
.
Judging from the several most recent finds it must be "Vice Week" here at Found.
Why can't I sign
in
?
The thing to do is this: if the person's house is still on the market, make an offer that's way over the asking price, and then, when the offer's accepted, say you plan to turn it in to a brothel. See if he/she still accepts the offer. I bet the answer's 'yes'.
@Lauren in Muncie--That is hilarious! Did your friend believe you?
@tossing...Weighty issues get thrown in all the time on this comment board.
I say that because I think it is a little "over the top" when the writer of this note seems to blame the prostitutes rather than a possible ring leader.
Second, if they want to do something about it they could always report to the New Zealand authorities that they believe there is possible sex slave trafficking going on in the house down the street. I am not sure but I would hope that there were laws in New Zealand that forbids sex slavery.
However, since this find is two years old, I'm sure the owner just bit the bullet and sold the house for whatever price they could get out of it.
1) Cart-go-back blew my mind. How have I never heard that?
2) The only place I've shopped in the US where you put a coin in to take a cart is Aldi, a cash-only discount grocery chain here in the states. As such, most of my friends (the more liberal ones than the conservative ones, which surprises me) think it's a cheap, tacky idea to implement. They've literally told me they'd "rather pay more for their groceries if that's what it takes to hire lot attendants."
*shakes head and sighs* Whatever, man. I'm paying $3.75 a gallon in a non-bussed area. I'm saving on groceries where I can thankyouverymuch!
3) Speaking of saving on groceries: Do do you think there's a "neighbor's discount" on these tarts? A Baker's Half Dozen Special if you're on the same block? Maybe an ad in the Penny Saver, or a membership card you can have punched every time you go? Free Sample Saturdays?
I imagine the writer of the note as an older lady who favors housecoats, support hose, and Lawrence Welk. However, it always makes me sad that she can only see the prostitutes as "tarts" instead of victims. Most prostitutes are not the "hookers with hearts of gold" ala "Pretty Woman." Instead, many have been coerced into the profession and are kept addicted to drugs in order to keep them enslaved to pimps.
I'm imagining a NZ pimp, wearing one of those outback Aussie hats with a big feather in it, walking down an ordinary suburban street with his stable of asian tarts, and no one noticed until a letter was sent out. The fact the house is called "Asian Heaven" (and it's a legal business) makes it even more obvious that New Zealanders might be a bit like the US, both moral & thick...
Isn't "brothel house" redundant?
I'm thinking it is written by an angry cat lady because what old man doesn't love the tarty Asian prostitutes?
Some people just don't know how lucky they are. I have to go all the way across town for my Asian prostitutes.
Yo, tart-hating neighbour, sell your house to the tarts already!
and
@Australian. The schools here in the U.S. don't teach geography any more. Between the Bush/Cheney military strategy on the one hand, and McDonald's world cuisine strategy on the other hand, it's all going to be under our hegemony anyway before too long.
For the record, geography is still taught, only it is squeezed in as part of the Social Studies curriculum, so it is not a class of it's own entity. Not that it has been thrown out, it has just been combined and therefore has less emphasis than it used to.
Also, I am an American and I know that New Zealand and Australia are completely different countries, so why can't the rest of you figure that out? It not only obviously offends those from the respective countries, but it saddens me that this is the impression we Americans give off to the rest of the world... opinions without fact. Geez. Watch the Flight of the Conchords episode called "Drive By." You'll see.
The word "tart" made me think of the old nurdery rhyme, which is kinda funny in this context:
Simple Simon met a pieman
Going to the fair;
Says Simple Simon to the pieman,
"Let me taste your ware."
Says the pieman to Simple Simon,
"Show me first your penny."
Says Simple Simon to the pieman,
"Indeed I have not any."
I'm more of a "muffin" man myself....
You would think the letter writer would have noticed these tarts earlier from their poo hats!
http://www.foundmagazine.com/find/695
That website found isn't referring to the same place, so the writer couldn't just call and complain. The letter mentions Rintoul street and the website says Newton street.
I also don't think "finding" a letter delivered specifically for you, in your personal mailbox is a find, either.
Amusing, yes, but not what us true finders come here everyday for. There's a different appeal to a discarded letter stumbled upon with an interesting story than opening your mailbox and finding something amusing delivered.
Heh, Nightngale, the find made me think of the Queen of Hearts nursery rhyme:
The Queen of Hearts,She made some tarts,
All on a summers day.
The Knave of Hearts,He stole those tarts,
And took them clean away.
I'm thinking the "theme" of these finds is things that should be legal or things that are legal in some states, but not others or things that are legal in Amsterdam, but this ain't Amsterdam.
Fiona is an elderly name and the use of tart makes me think she’s in her seventies. A younger person would have said ho, and a 40 something would have said slut. Mona Lisa would have said hoochie mama (cause she's probably black), and Winston would have said hussy (I think she's born again). Chrome Toaster would have said my girlfriends and Salt would have said Mom. Clover would be more proper and say prostitutes. While Turbo list the acronyms for types of sex he wants.
When I went to New Zealand last year, I really loved visiting Amsterdam. It is a lovely mountain village nestled high in the Caucasus Mountains where the indigenous Mayan people weave yak wool into lederhosen. As most people know, you can get the best clam chowder there, as clams are abundant in nearby Lake Tanganyika. No prostitutes, but every Friday night they celebrate a Night of the Henna. Visiting the birthplace of Mao Zedong -- where they have a little museum and gift shop -- is memorable, too.
Fiona is the Finder, not the note writer, you jerk.
"Please do whatever you can to get rid of Pepper from our road."
Oops. Sorry, we tried that, but you all love her so much.
Pepper: Are you Cinnamon Toaster too?
Christina in Illinois - it is the same place. The website says, "Our address is 10 Milward st which runs just off of Rintoul st. Its easy to find and a discreet location."
I thought pepper's comment was funny. But still go to hell pepper.
!
From the website:
" * Monday : 10am - 3am
* Tuesday : 10am - 3am
* Wednesday : 10am - 3am
* Thursday : 10am - Late
* Friday : 10am - Late
* Saturday : 10am - Late
* Sunday : 10am - 3am "
Am I the only one who's shocked that 3am isn't considered late?
Oh no....3am is early, but then again 10pm is late for me.
P.S I to am shocked that some people can't figure out a simple atlas or even a globe...it's akin to paint by numbers and alzheimer patients can figure that out. The big one is Australia, the little one 3000km away is New Zealand....sheesh
What's the best American English equivalent of "tart"?
I'm serious, I like the word, but I'd like to know the nuances and such.
Strumpet? But really, don't some Americans say "tart"? I think they do. I remember Britney and friends being called "pop-tarts" at some point in time.
Since 2003, prostitution has been legal in NZ.
http://www.justice.govt.nz/plr/
For those who wondering why no-one is decrying the 'exploitation' of women in the neighbourhood, this might make interesting reading, (again, relates to NZ only):
http://www.courts.govt.nz/pubs/reports/2005/se
Contains this quote, amongst a great deal more of interest: "Contrary to prevalent and narrow stereotypes of young, drug-addicted prostitutes, most studies of sex workers comment on the diversity of those working within the industry (Jordan, 1991c; Pyett, Haste & Snow, 1996). "
I am very proud of this legislation which essentially makes conditions safer for the workers involved in an industry which always has, and always will exist, however much moral wowsers like the note writer want to pretend it should not. At least, not in their neighbourhood.
^ sorry, second link should be:
http://www.courts.govt.nz/pubs/reports/2005/se
@ mlm in Texas: Yeah, I'm pretty sure she believed me.
@ Answering spam: People in Muncie are sometimes too lazy to return the carts at Aldi for their quarter. Therefore, you can make a dollar or two of of their laziness. I rarely go to Aldi, though. They only have weird stuff there.
I'm just wondering, but did anyone actually SAY that NZ and Australia were one and the same? did I miss something?
some of pepper/SALT's assumptions are so cute.
@lost in the '80s
Basically these two comments set it off:
"This was written about a week before the Croc Hunter met his demise. Mere coincidence? I think not."
"I'm imagining a NZ pimp, wearing one of those outback Aussie hats with a big feather in it"
Which don't actually SAY that NZ and Aus are the same country, but seem to show some confusion. It's a common confusion that NZers and Australians are sensitive to, hence the strong response.
I wrote on my blog about prostitutes in my neighborhood also. They pay taxes where we live, so it isn't as bad as you might think.
You can read the post by going to this url.
http://themaskedmillionaire.com/2008/04/13/leg
I wish I got cool notices like this, all we get in my neighborhood is "don't let your kids play in the registered sex offender's yard" type notices...I'm so jealous of your neighborhood.
I love Aldi's. They have the most random stuff sometimes, and two (yes TWO!) versions of generic Nutella. Mmmm!!! Plus they're inexpensive, which is important for our family, and they're all over the place.
Australia's where I know some crazy people live. NZ's where they filmed Lord of the Rings. Totally different places. (See, Mr. M, some of your 7th grade geography DID get retained!!)
Why are there no photos of prostitutes/tarts on the website? Prostitution is illegal in 49 states and yet they show photos of prostitutes on the websites here (they also advertise "discreetly" in newspapers). That site just looks like a sleazy motel where you BYOT (bring your own tart).
If he lives in the same neighborhood as a brothel, maybe he should try selling to Eliot Spitzer... (ba-dum-bum)
Ummm... pure, it's New Zealand. We've been through this.
TARTS!
I bet they're sweet tarts. Narf.
Apparently invisible (and dim)...
I never even inferred any confusion between the two countries, simply the image of a man wearing a hat style favored by Aussies, a hat which is likely sold in NZ in souvenir shops.
I swear, sometimes racial sensitivity is truly perplexing; stop perpetuating the ridiculous notion that simply because NZers and Aussies have similar accents, they're the same ethnicity..hmmm, they're primarily composed of Euro-Saxon derived whites, and contain Aboriginal/Maori peoples from similar origins, and they're both former/current UK colonies. And both islands. How could anyone get these countries confused?? I think NZ's get more offended because other than the topography, there is nothing particularly notable about New Zealanders.
All of this tart-talk reminded me of "..tartlet...tartlet... tartlet. Word's lost all meaning."
if it's legal why does it drive down property values? because it's undesirable? a man has every right to be concerned about things that are driving down the price of his investment.
i understand completely where this person is coming from as i am in the process of "cleaning up" my neighborhood too. although it is different in that prostitution is legal.
this person would do better to propose legislation to make it illegal within his community boundaries.
letter is still funny :D
Your neighbor sounds like a prick, haha.
He or she should just sell to the "Tarts" in the area and leave.
Very amusing. =]
@ Frank in Beans
Now are you trying to be offensive? I never said I had any problem with earlier comments, I was just answetring someones question as to what caused the responses.
HOWEVER...why on Earth would you sell an Australian souvenir in a NZ souvenir shop? Do they sell maple syrup and Mountie figurines at LAX?
And Maori and Australian aborigines have VERY different origins. But hey, they're both dark skinned, so feel free to presume they're more or less one and the same.
Absolutely the 2 countries have much in common. And we're small and miles away, so I don't demand that everybody in the world be able to tell the difference. Heck, I can't distinguish between Nigerians and Ghanaians. But I'd completely understand if the inhabitants found it irksome, particularly if it happened a lot.
As for your 'there's nothing particularly notable about New Zealanders' that's just trolling of the most moronic kind.
@ Frank in Beans: none of the objections have been manifestations of "racial sensitivity." If anything, it is nationalistic identity -- which in something quite different than racial identity. That it is so easy to conflate race with nation is part of the problem with our understanding of geography and history more broadly. Being precise about "race" and "nation" is necessary. End of soap-boxing.
QUOTE: 2) The only place I've shopped in the US where you put a coin in to take a cart is Aldi, a cash-only discount grocery chain here in the states. As such, most of my friends (the more liberal ones than the conservative ones, which surprises me) think it's a cheap, tacky idea to implement. They've literally told me they'd "rather pay more for their groceries if that's what it takes to hire lot attendants."
*shakes head and sighs* Whatever, man. I'm paying $3.75 a gallon in a non-bussed area. I'm saving on groceries where I can thankyouverymuch!
END OF QUOTE
I'm not sure what Aldi has to do with this find, but I want to set some things straigh. Aldi is German Company, actually, it was founded by two brothers but when they got in a fight they split the company up in Aldi Sud and Aldi Nord (Aldi south and north).
In Germany (and Holland, and I think all european countries), it is normal to have to put in a coin when you want to use a shopping cart, even the most expensive supermarktets, so not just when shopping at Aldi. I was very surprised that you don't have to do that in the States, when I was there, shoppingcarts were all over the parking lot because people just weren't going to bother about taking them back..
sophomore year my english class read of mice and men. finding out that curley's(i think?) wife was described as a tart, the boys were set for the rest of the year, and yes, that was the key word thrown around. "oh yeah, what a TART." my english teacher was happy to have taught us something. that word has stuck in my head.
Eline: Really? I read that Aldi's is short for ALbertson's DIscount store.
WOW!!! Here, in Ontario, at 75% of the stores, you must put (sometimes) up to a dollar in the carts. It's a fantastic incentive because now all the people (yes! even the lazy ones!) put their carts back where they belong. Not strewn across the whole parking lot which causes dents, scratches, and accidents with cars.
Also, it's curb appeal so great for business!
However, I found it quite hilarious about the website's hours of operation!! You'd think in that type of business, it would be 24/7-365 days!!
Also, if the seller of the house thought more intelligently, make a private offer to the owner of the brothel home to buy his/her home.
An offer s/he can NOT refuse!!!
I loved this FIND!!
BTW, I've been to NZ and Aussie, both gorgeous and friendly environments!!!
Asian tarts. Mmmmm, I love Thai food.
Butter tarts...YUMMY!! With raisins, and or pecans!
This made me double over with laughter! That's GREAT!