Looks like Deb Howell might pull more weight around the Post newsroom than we previously thought.

# of "massage parlor" ads:

Monday, August 21: 12
Friday, August 25: 11
Sunday, August 27: Howell's column encouraging the Post to drop massage parlor ads comes out.
Monday, August 28: 9
Wednesday, August, 30: 7

Of course, maybe it's because there are simply less prostitutes available?

"Law enforcement officials yesterday announced the arrest of 31 people who they said were involved in running an internatinoal prostitution ring that operated at least 19 brothels in the Northeast...Many of the houses in what officials described as a 'network of Korean-owned brothels stretching from Rhode Island to Washington, D.C.' claimed to be legitimate businesses like massage parlors, health spas and acupuncture clinics."