My annual pilgrimage to the city of Las Vegas (which I've often referred to as 'Greedy Gulch,' 'The Mecca of Misery,' and 'The Neon Nightmare') will begin a few days after this column hits the stands.

And although Protecting Adult Welfare (www.pawfoundation.org) has been very generously donated a 20x20 booth at The AVN Adult Entertainment Expo 2011 (www.AdultEntertainmentExpo.com)--- wherein I will attempt (with the greatly appreciated aid of radiant volunteers including spectacular 'SuperTanker' Minka, ebullient ebony entity Izzy Charms, human hand warmer Kandi Hart, fearsomely feline Ava Vincent, always unpredictable Anita Cannibal, and the aroused/anxious newcomer Luna Azul) to raise monies for the non-profit adult industry helpline---my primary purpose for traveling over 300 miles from Los Angeles is to help stage an event called THE LEGENDS OF EROTICA.

And on Friday evening January 7, The Class of 2011---LISA ANN, JILL KELLY, DYANNA LAUREN, MR. MARCUS, PATTY PLENTY and RayVeness---will be honored during the induction ceremonies inside Showgirl Video located at 631 South Las Vegas Blvd.

The sextet of X-rated industry notables will cause the roster of THE LEGENDS OF EROTICA (initiated in 1994) to swell to over 90, and I've already jotted down close to 20 more deserving additions to deal with over the next few years.

Particularly noteworthy this time around however will be the taking of some time out of THE LEGENDS OF EROTICA proceedings to honor one of the most important elements of the X-Rated Industry...its FANS.

With the recent passing of the formidable fan Howard Hurley (pictured here receiving his Fan of the Year award during the 1992 FOXE Follies), I realized that an appreciation and acknowledgement of those who derive vicarious thrills from what the erotic performers provide was way overdue. However, common sense made me want to protect the seven others who won FOXE's Fan of the Year from society's derision, so I felt listing them by first names only---Andrew, Calvin, Ernie, James, Jay, Joseph, and Munson---would suffice. But I would be negligent if I didn't mention a few of the current generation of Super Fans by first name as well: Anthony, Curtis, Eric, Joe, Larry, and a couples of Toms.

I would also be negligent if I didn't acknowledge another feature of THE LEGENDS OF EROTICA presentations: The Carnal Medal of Honor. Conceived by Showgirl Video's owner Raymond Pistol a few years before I surprised him by presenting the first one to him in 1999, it has since become an emblem of esteem for service to the Adult Entertainment Industry way beyond one's normal duty...and concern.

And with only one exception (truly a severe lapse in judgment on my part in 2002)---for a seemingly endless series of reasons including his obsequious journalistic verbosity and his litany of egregious adult entertainment history errors---the name of the 2002 recipient, who perpetuates a bilious horned toad visage, will be permanently missing from any Carnal Medal of Honor list with which I am involved.

However, it has been the proudest of pleasures to bestow Carnal Medals of Honor upon 'Dirty' Bob in 2000 (pictured here in between 2001 recipients John Douglas and Dave Michaels), Dr. Phillip Berman (2003), Christi Lake (2004), Stevi Secret (2005), Anita Cannibal (2007), Summer Haze and Steve Nelson (2008), and Jared Rutter (2009).

For the record...Carnal Medals of Honor were also prepared for Rachel Worth (2006), for Charlie LaTour (2009), and for Dr. X (2010)...but they have yet to be bestowed.

Although there will no Carnal Medal of Honor recipient during the 2011 LEGENDS OF EROTICA...many other well-deserving souls are under serious consideration for future presentations.

Finally, and with the heaviest of hearts, I am concluding this column by announcing that the wall behind the perpetually busy clerk's counter at Showgirl---which is already emblazoned with the images of those LEGENDS OF EROTICA (including John C. Holmes, Rene Bond and Shauna Grant) who have passed away---will now be sadly enhanced by portraits of Jamie Gillis and John Leslie.