Rock Christmas songs . . . generally suck.
There are a few (very few) exceptions, and the best of the entire lot never gets any airtime at Christmas, by and large. And that's "Father Christmas" by the Kinks.
Leaps and bounds better than Springsteen's goofy, boozy cover of "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town," not even worth a comparison to that Christmas rock junk from the 50s and 60s, "Father Christmas" is the goods.
I couldn't find a good quality video of the Kinks performing the song, but this video is fun, set to the Kinks' version.
Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays to all.
"Forces Of Chaos And Anarchy"
"We are forces of chaos and anarchy
Everything they say we are, we are --
And we are very proud of ourselves."
Those Jefferson Airplane lyrics are almost forty years old now. The 60s are longer ago than most people realize.
But on hearing the song by chance the other day, I got to thinking about D/s, and "forces of chaos and anarchy."
D/s clearly is a disruptive force in society, or could be, and I mean "disruptive" in the best possible way. That D/s is not a political entity is solely the result of its practitioners being overwhelmingly, tightly, closeted.
D/s people are not in a dissimilar place to where gays and lesbians were when the Jefferson Airplane was singing "We Can Be Together." And our society is just as uninterested and hostile to exposure to any form of alternative sexuality as society was 40 years ago regarding same-sex love. But D/s people rarely if ever feel like an oppressed minority, since most are happy to be private or at most involved with small groups of trusted like-minded people.
Nor are we monolithic; a D/s voting bloc is not ever happening -- I've met plenty of people in this life who I wished I lived in the same state as simply so that I could nullify their vote with Mine. I have no illusions that D/s people, numerous as we might be, will ever be a political "force" in traditional terms.
But as forces of chaos and anarchy? As an invigorating disruptor beam fired into the increasingly conformist, complacent and rapidly darkening, hardening, collective heart?
It's not an unappealing thought . . .
[In the spirit of anarchy, no YouTube Tuesday post tonight. Hey, it's a start!]
YouTube Tuesday: Too Hot For YouTube
Tonight's video was created by yours truly, and actually was posted on youtube for a couple of days before the youtube sex police caught a glimpse of partial nudity and the video was taken down.
Anyway, here it is in all its unabridged glory. It's just a little slide show, the theme of which quickly becomes evident.
Anyway, here it is in all its unabridged glory. It's just a little slide show, the theme of which quickly becomes evident.
YouTube Tuesday: 80s Rule, Part 4
I was sitting here, drawing a total blank for YouTube Tuesday, when it came to Me: "Dancing in the Sheets" by Shalamar.
This one's got it all . . . disco Zorro, a swashbuckling guitarist, headbands that defy description, a little robot dancing, and 80s wonderfulness by the truckload. Plus it ended up on the Footlose soundtrack -- I mean, is there any higher 80s honor?
It seems like yesterday I would listen to this song and 1) wish that I were old enough to go to cool nightclubs, and 2) probably thought that stuff like that actually happened in said cool nightclubs.
"grab your coat and wave goodbye to your friends
i wanna take you where the night never ends
i feel the need to sweep you off of your feet
you and me we should be dancing in the sheets"
This one's got it all . . . disco Zorro, a swashbuckling guitarist, headbands that defy description, a little robot dancing, and 80s wonderfulness by the truckload. Plus it ended up on the Footlose soundtrack -- I mean, is there any higher 80s honor?
It seems like yesterday I would listen to this song and 1) wish that I were old enough to go to cool nightclubs, and 2) probably thought that stuff like that actually happened in said cool nightclubs.
"grab your coat and wave goodbye to your friends
i wanna take you where the night never ends
i feel the need to sweep you off of your feet
you and me we should be dancing in the sheets"
Change Time
Every season there is a day heralds the change. The day can fall right at the "right" time or it can fall way early, or way late.
It snowed yesterday morning, an inch or so. But yesterday wasn't the day that winter jostled its way into My thoughts to stay. That snow was followed by a dreary drizzly misty day and by this morning no trace of the white stuff remained.
But today was the day that snubbed out the last embers of fall. Cold, blustery, a peek of sun in the morning and then slate gray overcast the rest of the day. It doesn't matter that some trees still have leaves on them. It doesn't matter that the first frost was three weeks ago. It doesn't matter that officially, it's two weeks plus until the Winter Solstice.
Fall is dead. Winter is here.
I find my thoughts wandering to that day, so far away it seems now, that drives a stake through winter's heart and tells Me it's spring.
YouTube Tuesday: 80s rule, Part 3
Tonight belongs to 80s hearthrob Rick Springfield, soap opera hottie turned rock star. It was close between "Jessie's Girl" and this selection, but "Don't Talk to Strangers" won out by a teased hair.
Springfield just sells this song so well . . . he doesn't betray one iota of being in on the joke, which would've ruined the whole thing. And, is that two of the band members doing a little homage to the Hall and Oates "Private Eyes" video there for a couple of seconds?
Well, you could never reach the pop icon status that Hall and Oates ascended to, Rick, but, for a little while you were the 80s. Hubba Hubba.
"Now who's this someone I been hearin' of?
Love hurts when only one's in love
Did you fall at first sight or did you need a shove?
I'm beggin' you -- please! -- don't talk to strangers . . . "
Springfield just sells this song so well . . . he doesn't betray one iota of being in on the joke, which would've ruined the whole thing. And, is that two of the band members doing a little homage to the Hall and Oates "Private Eyes" video there for a couple of seconds?
Well, you could never reach the pop icon status that Hall and Oates ascended to, Rick, but, for a little while you were the 80s. Hubba Hubba.
"Now who's this someone I been hearin' of?
Love hurts when only one's in love
Did you fall at first sight or did you need a shove?
I'm beggin' you -- please! -- don't talk to strangers . . . "
Reasons To Be Thankful
In no particular order . . .
1. I am thankful that I live where I live. For all its faults and missteps and often hideous policies, the United States still offers the most freedom and opportunity for the most people.
2. I am thankful to live when I live. I've been blessed to live in an age where technology accelerates seemingly on a daily basis, and it's truly exciting to see what will come next.
3. I am thankful to have what I have. Like everyone, I fantasize about winning the Powerball, but when I start to think that what I have isn't enough, I realize how different it all could be.
4. I am thankful for the opportunity that this blog and the Internet medium provides for Me to put My thoughts and feelings and creative endeavors out there. The value of being able to do this simple thing, so easy to take for granted, can't be underestimated.
5. I am thankful for being alive, for the chance, however small it might be, to touch My entire potential and to become something more.
6. I am thankful beyond words for the love, devotion, and submission of iris, storm, and tasha. That they are who they are, they they've become who they've become, is a constant source of humbling amazement for Me. I love them more than I know how to express, more than I can fathom. And I thank them from the bottom of My heart for all that they are and do.
I wish everyone a very happy and joyful Holiday season.
1. I am thankful that I live where I live. For all its faults and missteps and often hideous policies, the United States still offers the most freedom and opportunity for the most people.
2. I am thankful to live when I live. I've been blessed to live in an age where technology accelerates seemingly on a daily basis, and it's truly exciting to see what will come next.
3. I am thankful to have what I have. Like everyone, I fantasize about winning the Powerball, but when I start to think that what I have isn't enough, I realize how different it all could be.
4. I am thankful for the opportunity that this blog and the Internet medium provides for Me to put My thoughts and feelings and creative endeavors out there. The value of being able to do this simple thing, so easy to take for granted, can't be underestimated.
5. I am thankful for being alive, for the chance, however small it might be, to touch My entire potential and to become something more.
6. I am thankful beyond words for the love, devotion, and submission of iris, storm, and tasha. That they are who they are, they they've become who they've become, is a constant source of humbling amazement for Me. I love them more than I know how to express, more than I can fathom. And I thank them from the bottom of My heart for all that they are and do.
I wish everyone a very happy and joyful Holiday season.
Spaiku
The following are haiku composed entirely from the subject lines of spam e-mails I've received. Presenting the wit and wisdom of . . . Spaiku.
1.
College sluts on cam
Young gal ruthlessly gangbanged
Viagra by mail!
2.
Tax refund notice
You've won Polish lottery
Christmas is coming.
3.
Young whore gets tit-fucked
Chubby grandma gets boned, icy,
hot, and everything.
1.
College sluts on cam
Young gal ruthlessly gangbanged
Viagra by mail!
2.
Tax refund notice
You've won Polish lottery
Christmas is coming.
3.
Young whore gets tit-fucked
Chubby grandma gets boned, icy,
hot, and everything.
YouTube Tuesday: Not The Usual Cute Cat Video
There are, I think, 2.4 billion cat videos on youtube. If I'm not careful I can get sucked into a KVV (Kitty Video Vortex) and hours might go by while I watch clip after clip of the world's most wonderful creatures.
This one is a little different. No balls of string. No 4-foot vertical leaps into the crotch of unsuspecting humans. No frenzied dashes. No feline Ultimate Fighting.
In this video, Kona and Hilo take on the big issues.
And yes, cats are capable of making phone calls, texting, and operating a remote.
Yeah.
This one is a little different. No balls of string. No 4-foot vertical leaps into the crotch of unsuspecting humans. No frenzied dashes. No feline Ultimate Fighting.
In this video, Kona and Hilo take on the big issues.
And yes, cats are capable of making phone calls, texting, and operating a remote.
Yeah.
Roadside Flare
One day so easily blends into the next. Before I know it I'm staring at the fact that the last three posts on this blog have been Youtube Tuesday entries. YTT is supposed to be weekly fun filler, not the entree here.
It's difficult not to feel guilty. I tend to think of Myself as someone with plenty to say and, well, no one would have a blog if she truly thought that what she had to say was totally worthless, would she?
So, plenty to say. It's worth saying. So . . . where's all the posts?
There is no simple answer. I start 4-5 non-YTT posts for every one that eventually gets published. (You will have to be the judge of whether the fact that what you see here is the product of intense scrutiny/selection is heartening, or depressing.)
There is work. There is the rest of life. There's all the usual other reasons. In the end I fall back on what I always say, rendered no less true for being familiar: I'm working on it. When the posts and stories are ready, they'll pour out. In the meantime, I'm reading you all, even if you don't see Me, thanks to the feed reader, and following your adventures avidly.
More soon. Really. KAHTATUS.
YouTube Tuesday (One Day Late): The Best Reason To Watch NCIS
I like NCIS. The mysteries are . . . well, let's just say Arthur Conan Doyle isn't feeling the heat form beyond the grave. But the writing is decent, the acting is pretty good, and there's a little humor here and there amidst the drama. Mark Harmon is getting a little frayed around the edges but he's perfect in this, Lauren Holly still looks damn good, and there are some fun supporting players.
But the best reason to watch NCIS is Abby. And at least one youtuber feels the same way.
But the best reason to watch NCIS is Abby. And at least one youtuber feels the same way.
YouTube Tuesday: 80s Rule, Part 2
Tonight's trip down 80s Lane is "Sex," by Berlin.
This helping of slick synth-pop has it all -- lyrics that got it banned in some places ("banning" is a quaint notion that the youngest adults might not recall), instantly interesting subject matter (sex, duh), and two icons of 80s gorgeousness, John Crawford and Teri Nunn.
The drama! The clothes! The hair! The accessories! 80s Rule!
This helping of slick synth-pop has it all -- lyrics that got it banned in some places ("banning" is a quaint notion that the youngest adults might not recall), instantly interesting subject matter (sex, duh), and two icons of 80s gorgeousness, John Crawford and Teri Nunn.
The drama! The clothes! The hair! The accessories! 80s Rule!
YouTube Tuesday: 80s Rule, Part 1
Tonight's video is Falco's worldwide smash "Rock Me Amadeus." Aside from being a great, fun song, Falco makes a sharp comment on the nature of hero worship and opines that Mozart was the world's first rock star.
Falco died in 1998 and never tasted lasting success in the US, but he had a solid career in Europe and best of all, produced at least one bona fide 80s gem.
I have no idea how accurate this may or may not be, but Google translates the lyrics as:
He was a punker
And he lived in the big city
It was in Vienna, was vienna
Where did it all
He had owe because he drank
But he loved all women
And every exclaimed:
Come and rock me Amadeus Come and rock me Amadeus
He was a superstar
He was popular
He was so eccentric
Because he had flair
He was a virtuoso
Was a rockidol
And all cried:
Come and rock me Amadeus Come and rock me Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus .. Amadeus, Amadeus ...
It was around 1780
And it was in vienna
No plastic money anymore
The banks against him
Where did owe the
Was well known anyone
He was a man of women
Women loved his punk
He was a superstar
He was popular
He was so eccentric
Because he had flair
He was a virtuoso
Was a rockidol
And all cried:
Come and rock me Amadeus Come and rock me Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus... Amadeus, Amadeus ...
Falco died in 1998 and never tasted lasting success in the US, but he had a solid career in Europe and best of all, produced at least one bona fide 80s gem.
I have no idea how accurate this may or may not be, but Google translates the lyrics as:
He was a punker
And he lived in the big city
It was in Vienna, was vienna
Where did it all
He had owe because he drank
But he loved all women
And every exclaimed:
Come and rock me Amadeus Come and rock me Amadeus
He was a superstar
He was popular
He was so eccentric
Because he had flair
He was a virtuoso
Was a rockidol
And all cried:
Come and rock me Amadeus Come and rock me Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus .. Amadeus, Amadeus ...
It was around 1780
And it was in vienna
No plastic money anymore
The banks against him
Where did owe the
Was well known anyone
He was a man of women
Women loved his punk
He was a superstar
He was popular
He was so eccentric
Because he had flair
He was a virtuoso
Was a rockidol
And all cried:
Come and rock me Amadeus Come and rock me Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus... Amadeus, Amadeus ...
Rolling Your Own And Enjoying It Less?
A girl came into the room yesterday. A first-time visitor I'll call saturnia (not her real nickname). Those who have ever visited #Enchanted_Palms know that I really bend over backwards to be welcoming and gracious to first-time visitors (sometimes to My own detriment, but that's another story). I do have, however a few very simple rules.
So saturnia comes in . . . she seems pretty normal, nice, etc. Great.
One of My simple rules has to do with the use of "Sir" and "Ma'am" by submissives when addressing Dominants. [The purpose of this post isn't to explain why, but there is a short explanation and a long explanation. The short explanation is "because it's My room and I say so." The long explanation is considerably more enlightening, well thought-out, and, umm . . . longer.]
I do, however, attempt to convey what the rules are in the gentlest way possible. I honestly do find I catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.
So, after waiting a couple minutes, and being addressed just by My name, twice, I say, and I quote:
Lenora smiles . . . it's Sir/Ma'am in here, saturnia . . . thank you
saturnia says "Oh!," "Bye," and leaves.
I understand there are bottoms and there are submissives. I understand that each person feels free to define his or her submission however s/he sees fit and to pursue opportunities to experience that uniquely-defined submission, in day to day life, on-line, in one's fantasy life, etc.
I get all that. And in and of itself it's perfectly reasonable and probably healthy.
But I do cling to the (apparently unpopular) notion that "roll your own"submission is inherently limiting. There is a value in submitting to a situation in which one is not being catered to to the nth degree.
When I say "submitting," I mean . . . bending one's will a bit, not surrendering. Anyone who doesn't understand the difference between submission and surrender shouldn't be exploring any of this in the first place until s/he learns that difference.
Submitting to the situation means putting aside for a little while that idealized menu we all carry around in our heads, and looking, experiencing, considering, another way. Not to change everything about one's self, but simply to add something new to the inventory. Perhaps it's discarded soon afterwards, perhaps not -- in either case one is richer for the experience.
Exploring submission is not like learning basket-weaving or auto repair or real estate law. Unlike just about any other field of human endeavor, exploring submission of necessity entails moving outside of the totality of what one thought one wanted to do.
I am not talking about exposing one's self to anything illegal, dangerous, damaging, etc. I am talking about stopping a moment, considering the possibility that 100% self-defined submission might not be all there is, since it lacks the essential "other" element: that entity to be submitted to. And in that, the realization that there is not only a value, but a real beauty in simple, non-dramatic, garden variety, non-surrendering submission. And along with the beauty, afterwards, a quiet sense of accomplishment that can feel very warm and real.
So saturnia comes in . . . she seems pretty normal, nice, etc. Great.
One of My simple rules has to do with the use of "Sir" and "Ma'am" by submissives when addressing Dominants. [The purpose of this post isn't to explain why, but there is a short explanation and a long explanation. The short explanation is "because it's My room and I say so." The long explanation is considerably more enlightening, well thought-out, and, umm . . . longer.]
I do, however, attempt to convey what the rules are in the gentlest way possible. I honestly do find I catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.
So, after waiting a couple minutes, and being addressed just by My name, twice, I say, and I quote:
Lenora smiles . . . it's Sir/Ma'am in here, saturnia . . . thank you
saturnia says "Oh!," "Bye," and leaves.
I understand there are bottoms and there are submissives. I understand that each person feels free to define his or her submission however s/he sees fit and to pursue opportunities to experience that uniquely-defined submission, in day to day life, on-line, in one's fantasy life, etc.
I get all that. And in and of itself it's perfectly reasonable and probably healthy.
But I do cling to the (apparently unpopular) notion that "roll your own"submission is inherently limiting. There is a value in submitting to a situation in which one is not being catered to to the nth degree.
When I say "submitting," I mean . . . bending one's will a bit, not surrendering. Anyone who doesn't understand the difference between submission and surrender shouldn't be exploring any of this in the first place until s/he learns that difference.
Submitting to the situation means putting aside for a little while that idealized menu we all carry around in our heads, and looking, experiencing, considering, another way. Not to change everything about one's self, but simply to add something new to the inventory. Perhaps it's discarded soon afterwards, perhaps not -- in either case one is richer for the experience.
Exploring submission is not like learning basket-weaving or auto repair or real estate law. Unlike just about any other field of human endeavor, exploring submission of necessity entails moving outside of the totality of what one thought one wanted to do.
I am not talking about exposing one's self to anything illegal, dangerous, damaging, etc. I am talking about stopping a moment, considering the possibility that 100% self-defined submission might not be all there is, since it lacks the essential "other" element: that entity to be submitted to. And in that, the realization that there is not only a value, but a real beauty in simple, non-dramatic, garden variety, non-surrendering submission. And along with the beauty, afterwards, a quiet sense of accomplishment that can feel very warm and real.
YouTube Tuesday: Fast-Forward Bondage
A fun little clip of a girl getting tied up . . . very professionally done, but the speed has been turned up quite a bit. Seeing the normal speed version might actually be good as an instructional piece, but the frantically-paced clip is fun, and the music, "Tear You Apart" by She Wants Revenge, works nicely.
On Delurking, Feed Readers, and The Big Gap
Recently there was a "mass delurking" day in the sex blog world, a day when those who regularly read but never comment were supposed to leave a comment, letting the author(s) know they existed. It's a great idea . . . I know how many visits I get a day (100 or so, typically) and I know how many comments I get (one or two a week); it would be nice for more readers to make their existence known.
I didn't know about this particular delurking day and if I had I'd have made a "please delurk" post, but frankly, I wouldn't have expected much; I've asked people to delurk before and the response has been, shall we say, underwhleming in the extreme.
That got Me to thinking about My own lurking. We all (or just about all) read a lot more blogs than we comment upon. But I've found in My case, and I suspect the experience of others might be similar, since I started using a feed reader, I lurk even more and comment even less.
For those not totally familiar, a feed reader "pushes" new posts from each blog (or site) you subscribe to, so that you see the post in your feed reader screen (Google Reader, in My case), as opposed to having to visit (and remember to visit) every blog on My link list.
It's very convenient -- one never "leaves home," as it were, and automatically stays current with all the blogs one wants to.
But it has its drawbacks.
One, I think it encourages lurking. There is no way to comment upon the pushed post without navigating to the post in its original environment,. It's just an extra step and extra steps always limit use, at least to some degree.
Two, one can not see the comments left by others, only the original post. To see them means, again, going to the original post. See above.
Three, one doesn't see the layout of the original page. I enjoy seeing who has changed layouts and how often/why. There are many blogs on My link list for which I've read every post made the last three months but for which I have not landed on the actual site once since setting up the feed.
Three-A, not seeing the layout means not seeing the link list either. Some of My best finds were from the link lists of blogs I link to. As blogs appear and disappear, I miss that source of new inspirations.
So, the reader environment is convenient in the extreme, but limited and sterile.
The other differing aspect of using a reader is that I am not recording any "visits" to the linked-to blogs and thus not being shown in their counters for visits, page reads, etc. I assume that there are some stats being kept somewhere regarding how many "reads" there are via the feed, but it's not the same. By using the reader I have ceased to be part of that constantly-aggregating number at the bottom of the screen. And something about that I don't like.
So, if your blog is on My link list . . . I am reading, actually more faithfully than I was prior to setting up the feed reader (Piper -- set up a feed! yours is the only blog on My list I can't find a feed for!) . . . and I'll make a more concerted effort to jump over and comment more, and/or just to poke around and see what's new, graphically and link-list wise.
I didn't know about this particular delurking day and if I had I'd have made a "please delurk" post, but frankly, I wouldn't have expected much; I've asked people to delurk before and the response has been, shall we say, underwhleming in the extreme.
That got Me to thinking about My own lurking. We all (or just about all) read a lot more blogs than we comment upon. But I've found in My case, and I suspect the experience of others might be similar, since I started using a feed reader, I lurk even more and comment even less.
For those not totally familiar, a feed reader "pushes" new posts from each blog (or site) you subscribe to, so that you see the post in your feed reader screen (Google Reader, in My case), as opposed to having to visit (and remember to visit) every blog on My link list.
It's very convenient -- one never "leaves home," as it were, and automatically stays current with all the blogs one wants to.
But it has its drawbacks.
One, I think it encourages lurking. There is no way to comment upon the pushed post without navigating to the post in its original environment,. It's just an extra step and extra steps always limit use, at least to some degree.
Two, one can not see the comments left by others, only the original post. To see them means, again, going to the original post. See above.
Three, one doesn't see the layout of the original page. I enjoy seeing who has changed layouts and how often/why. There are many blogs on My link list for which I've read every post made the last three months but for which I have not landed on the actual site once since setting up the feed.
Three-A, not seeing the layout means not seeing the link list either. Some of My best finds were from the link lists of blogs I link to. As blogs appear and disappear, I miss that source of new inspirations.
So, the reader environment is convenient in the extreme, but limited and sterile.
The other differing aspect of using a reader is that I am not recording any "visits" to the linked-to blogs and thus not being shown in their counters for visits, page reads, etc. I assume that there are some stats being kept somewhere regarding how many "reads" there are via the feed, but it's not the same. By using the reader I have ceased to be part of that constantly-aggregating number at the bottom of the screen. And something about that I don't like.
So, if your blog is on My link list . . . I am reading, actually more faithfully than I was prior to setting up the feed reader (Piper -- set up a feed! yours is the only blog on My list I can't find a feed for!) . . . and I'll make a more concerted effort to jump over and comment more, and/or just to poke around and see what's new, graphically and link-list wise.
Sigourney Weaver?
Piper recently wrote about a funny thing that happened during sex. Piper had coaxed her partner into talking about a fantasy of his, and it involved Piper and another woman. Piper of course just has to ask who that other woman might be and gets the pull-up-short answer:
Sigourney Weaver.
My reaction was an audible "What the ----?" followed by a good laugh. I'm not sure why I laughed, but I do agree with Piper's assessment:
"No offense to Ms. Weaver. I actually think she is quite attractive. She has a unique look and is not the classic Hollywood bombshell. It's just that I could have guessed 100 actresses and she wouldn't have been a blip on my radar."
And there is just something really funny about her name being the answer to that question. I don't know what it is . . . but . . .
Look at the bright side. He didn't say someone really old, someone really young, or someone who's dead. He didn't mention anyone related to him, currently serving time for a violent crime, or related to you. He didn't say your best friend, an ex-, or your worst enemy (not that you'd actually have any enemies).
So in the grand scheme of things "Sigourney Weaver" is actually a pretty good answer.
But in general, Piper, the trial lawyers' dictum applies well here:Don't ask any question you don't already know the answer to.
Happy weekend, everyone. KAHTATUS.
YouTube Tuesday: The Perfect Pop Song, Irresistible Disco/Pop Division
Back we go in pursuit of the Perfect Pop Song, and tonight's entry is a strong contender, "Rock DJ" by Robbie Williams.
This is pop: Singable, dance-able, bouncy, infectious. Clever lyrics you just have to learn and then easily forget a week later.
This just might be the one.
Disclaimer: The video might be kind of disturbing to some. Let's say Robbie takes the concept of "stripping" to its (il-)logical conclusion.
"Singin' in the classes
Music for your masses
Give no head
No backstage passes
Have a proper giggle
I'll be quite polite
But when I rock the mike
I rock the mike (right)
You got no love then you're with the wrong man
It's time to move your body
If you can't get a girl but your best friend can
It's time to move your body "
This is pop: Singable, dance-able, bouncy, infectious. Clever lyrics you just have to learn and then easily forget a week later.
This just might be the one.
Disclaimer: The video might be kind of disturbing to some. Let's say Robbie takes the concept of "stripping" to its (il-)logical conclusion.
"Singin' in the classes
Music for your masses
Give no head
No backstage passes
Have a proper giggle
I'll be quite polite
But when I rock the mike
I rock the mike (right)
You got no love then you're with the wrong man
It's time to move your body
If you can't get a girl but your best friend can
It's time to move your body "
What Sounds Good . . . Is Good?
swan writes here on the subject of poly relationships. It's a longish post, and to really get the best out of it you'll need to also read an externally-linked short story, but the investment in time is well worth it.
swan discusses briefly, the "easy" notion that "more love makes more love":
Poly people are fond of saying that "more love makes more love." It is one of those cute, clever, insider slogan-ish bits that we toss off to try and make things sound bright and easy and palatable to all the ones from outside who would look into our lives and make negative judgements. It is right up there on a par with the ubiquitous BDSM slogan, "SSC" (Safe, Sane, and Consensual). It really doesn't mean nearly as much as it seems to on the face of it, and once you start to know a little bit about the reality of things, that quick, glib, clever little throwaway line starts to pale some.
I have to say . . . yes, and no. The reason we "make things sound bright and easy" is not only to deflect negative judgments. It's also because 1) being positively-oriented is inherently less draining than being negatively-oriented, and 2) we sense the grain of truth in the "easy" statement, and we can't help responding to that, even though the wizened, hardened folks we want to think the world has made us would dismiss the idea completely.
In some cases more love actually does make more love. All? Most? No, I won't go there. Life and jealousy and sickness and petty annoyances and all those negative (if mostly silent) judgments do get in the way. And certainly, as swan notes, there is no standard configuration, no neat, logically-consistent (albeit tenuous) hierarchy of infinities like those that govern transfinite mathematics. So, to say it trivially but truthfully, your mileage will vary. A lot.
But it occurs to Me that the most radical thing one can do in this is to be the romantic. Wow. I wonder how many of us are strong (or foolish?) enough, often enough?
In any event, I encourage you to read swan's post. Poly or not, you'll find it thought-provoking and intelligent. And the story she links is to pretty entertaining as well.
swan discusses briefly, the "easy" notion that "more love makes more love":
Poly people are fond of saying that "more love makes more love." It is one of those cute, clever, insider slogan-ish bits that we toss off to try and make things sound bright and easy and palatable to all the ones from outside who would look into our lives and make negative judgements. It is right up there on a par with the ubiquitous BDSM slogan, "SSC" (Safe, Sane, and Consensual). It really doesn't mean nearly as much as it seems to on the face of it, and once you start to know a little bit about the reality of things, that quick, glib, clever little throwaway line starts to pale some.
I have to say . . . yes, and no. The reason we "make things sound bright and easy" is not only to deflect negative judgments. It's also because 1) being positively-oriented is inherently less draining than being negatively-oriented, and 2) we sense the grain of truth in the "easy" statement, and we can't help responding to that, even though the wizened, hardened folks we want to think the world has made us would dismiss the idea completely.
In some cases more love actually does make more love. All? Most? No, I won't go there. Life and jealousy and sickness and petty annoyances and all those negative (if mostly silent) judgments do get in the way. And certainly, as swan notes, there is no standard configuration, no neat, logically-consistent (albeit tenuous) hierarchy of infinities like those that govern transfinite mathematics. So, to say it trivially but truthfully, your mileage will vary. A lot.
But it occurs to Me that the most radical thing one can do in this is to be the romantic. Wow. I wonder how many of us are strong (or foolish?) enough, often enough?
In any event, I encourage you to read swan's post. Poly or not, you'll find it thought-provoking and intelligent. And the story she links is to pretty entertaining as well.
YouTube Tuesday: Goth Girls Are Easy
A fun little music video I found while prowling around the dark corners of youtube this evening. The band is called Lesbian Bed Death . . . but fortunately they're better at music than at coming up with good band names.
As for goth girls being easy . . . I'm sure they're not all that way, but it's an appealing thought . . .
As for goth girls being easy . . . I'm sure they're not all that way, but it's an appealing thought . . .
Lesdership Styles In D/s, Part 2
I brought Part 1 to an abrupt end with this:
"The Leader (Coach/Manager/Dom/me) has to be confident enough to be flexible enough."
Flexibility is a very tricky area. Many (including Me, on this blog, on several occasions) mention the importance of consistency, particularly in D/s interactions because the emotions are so exposed and magnified. And consistency is hugely important. How then to be "flexible" and consistent?
I see two parts to the answer: 1) to understand that consistency of strategy doesn't have to always mean consistency of tactics, and 2) to have the confidence that 1) can be implemented and that whatever misunderstandings might ensue as a result can be worked out.
Disclaimer: There are a lot of Dominants who are confident in their abilities who actually shouldn't be. I'm going to embrace a rare (for Me) "consumerist" point of view here and caution all submissives that confidence is often inversely proportional to ability and understanding, and to be very careful.
Consistency of strategy vs. consistency of tactics . . . in other words, understanding that while the destination doesn't change, there can be many roads that lead to it. The danger is that the submissive may get hung up on the change in tactics and begin to feel set adrift, unsure of the ground beneath him or her. [I don't like to draw a lot of gender differences in these things but in My experience a female submissive it seems is more likely to fall into that trap.]
What prevents that from happening is the vigilance and understanding of the Dominant. It's incumbent upon the Dom/me to be watchful for changes in the submissive's behavior that signal that either 1) the different tactic isn't working, and/or 2) the submissive feels abandoned.
And of course the Dom/me needs to be smart and at a certain point stop what doesn't work. The good Dom/me is constantly "making things up," as in . . . finding new and different ways to deliver the same message; S/He isn't tied to one approach, one tactic, while the underlying message remains totally and comfortingly consistent.
Lastly, "communication" rears its venerable head. The Dom/me has to be confident enough to admit that S/He isn't possessed of all the answers, that S/He is constantly searching for the best way to lead and to communicate, and that S/He is committed to all those improvements, short and long term.
While we all have Our leadership styles, the important thing is to realize that the one(s) we lead, their well-being and growth, are more important than holding fast to a style. And that in pursuit of that, often, many different styles are necessary.
"The Leader (Coach/Manager/Dom/me) has to be confident enough to be flexible enough."
Flexibility is a very tricky area. Many (including Me, on this blog, on several occasions) mention the importance of consistency, particularly in D/s interactions because the emotions are so exposed and magnified. And consistency is hugely important. How then to be "flexible" and consistent?
I see two parts to the answer: 1) to understand that consistency of strategy doesn't have to always mean consistency of tactics, and 2) to have the confidence that 1) can be implemented and that whatever misunderstandings might ensue as a result can be worked out.
Disclaimer: There are a lot of Dominants who are confident in their abilities who actually shouldn't be. I'm going to embrace a rare (for Me) "consumerist" point of view here and caution all submissives that confidence is often inversely proportional to ability and understanding, and to be very careful.
Consistency of strategy vs. consistency of tactics . . . in other words, understanding that while the destination doesn't change, there can be many roads that lead to it. The danger is that the submissive may get hung up on the change in tactics and begin to feel set adrift, unsure of the ground beneath him or her. [I don't like to draw a lot of gender differences in these things but in My experience a female submissive it seems is more likely to fall into that trap.]
What prevents that from happening is the vigilance and understanding of the Dominant. It's incumbent upon the Dom/me to be watchful for changes in the submissive's behavior that signal that either 1) the different tactic isn't working, and/or 2) the submissive feels abandoned.
And of course the Dom/me needs to be smart and at a certain point stop what doesn't work. The good Dom/me is constantly "making things up," as in . . . finding new and different ways to deliver the same message; S/He isn't tied to one approach, one tactic, while the underlying message remains totally and comfortingly consistent.
Lastly, "communication" rears its venerable head. The Dom/me has to be confident enough to admit that S/He isn't possessed of all the answers, that S/He is constantly searching for the best way to lead and to communicate, and that S/He is committed to all those improvements, short and long term.
While we all have Our leadership styles, the important thing is to realize that the one(s) we lead, their well-being and growth, are more important than holding fast to a style. And that in pursuit of that, often, many different styles are necessary.
Leadership Styles in D/s, Part 1
Sports analogies carried forward into business and real life can be overdone and certainly often are. But every now and then something that happens in the world of sports gets Me thinking about situations in D/s.
As you may or may not know, the New York Mets recently blew a large lead in the last two weeks of the season and ended up out of the playoffs. The "collapse" was historic in its proportions. And what's a good collapse without assigning blame?
Listening to sports talk radio in the wake of this debacle, hosts and callers and "experts" have various theories about who should get how much of said blame. And many want to lay a good portion of the blame on the Mets' manager, Wilie Randolph.
One thing that the Willie-blamers say is that Willie's personality is too low key. He doesn't get in players' faces; he doesn't argue much with umpires; he's not the locker-room tirade after a bad loss type.
The classic response to those who want a more fiery Willie Randolph is: "He has to be who he is. It's not his nature to be 'fiery.' "
And there, finally, is the point (I could hear your impatience).
To those who toss out the old chestnut that "That isn't Willie," I respond:
A good leader is less concerned with holding to some abstract conception of Him- or Herself and more concerned with eliciting the desired results from those S/He is leading.
Meaning, in baseball, in business, in D/s, the boss has to do what's necessary, to be who S/He needs to be, to get those being led to respond. Within the normal strictures of course of what is moral/legal/safe bla bla bla . . . let's not lose our way in Disclaimerville.
The Leader (Coach/Manager/Dom/me) has to be confident enough to be flexible enough.
More on that in Part 2.
As you may or may not know, the New York Mets recently blew a large lead in the last two weeks of the season and ended up out of the playoffs. The "collapse" was historic in its proportions. And what's a good collapse without assigning blame?
Listening to sports talk radio in the wake of this debacle, hosts and callers and "experts" have various theories about who should get how much of said blame. And many want to lay a good portion of the blame on the Mets' manager, Wilie Randolph.
One thing that the Willie-blamers say is that Willie's personality is too low key. He doesn't get in players' faces; he doesn't argue much with umpires; he's not the locker-room tirade after a bad loss type.
The classic response to those who want a more fiery Willie Randolph is: "He has to be who he is. It's not his nature to be 'fiery.' "
And there, finally, is the point (I could hear your impatience).
To those who toss out the old chestnut that "That isn't Willie," I respond:
A good leader is less concerned with holding to some abstract conception of Him- or Herself and more concerned with eliciting the desired results from those S/He is leading.
Meaning, in baseball, in business, in D/s, the boss has to do what's necessary, to be who S/He needs to be, to get those being led to respond. Within the normal strictures of course of what is moral/legal/safe bla bla bla . . . let's not lose our way in Disclaimerville.
The Leader (Coach/Manager/Dom/me) has to be confident enough to be flexible enough.
More on that in Part 2.
YouTube Tuesday: PostSecret
By now most know about Post Secret, a website where collected secrets that people have sent in on postcards have been blogged.
There have been various video collections of postcard secrets made -- this one is one of My favorites, set to, appropriately enough, "Dirty Little Secret" by the All-American Rejects.
Like Post Secret itself, this clip is by turns funny, touching, off-putting, and heartrending.
There have been various video collections of postcard secrets made -- this one is one of My favorites, set to, appropriately enough, "Dirty Little Secret" by the All-American Rejects.
Like Post Secret itself, this clip is by turns funny, touching, off-putting, and heartrending.
YouTube Tuesday: 60 Years of Racing
A little something different for tonight's clip -- a Shell gasoline promotional film celebrating the 60 years of Shell's work with Ferrari.
A race car starts in Rome and tools around various worldwide locations, evolving as it goes. Gorgeous film making, incredible pulse-quickening race-car sound.
A 2-minute thrill ride for the eyes, ears, and imagination.
A race car starts in Rome and tools around various worldwide locations, evolving as it goes. Gorgeous film making, incredible pulse-quickening race-car sound.
A 2-minute thrill ride for the eyes, ears, and imagination.
YouTube Tuesday: I Wanna Be Sedated
A little break from the "Perfect Pop Song" awards, because today was one of these days where you reach the end of it and "I Wanna Be Sedated" just sums up how you feel.
Neat little video, too . . . The Ramones calmly sitting there while everything goes nuts around them. Would that I could've been the one sitting calmly while everything went haywire today. Maybe next time I'll be luckier.
Neat little video, too . . . The Ramones calmly sitting there while everything goes nuts around them. Would that I could've been the one sitting calmly while everything went haywire today. Maybe next time I'll be luckier.
Soap Opera
1. Finally I've caught up with My reading and, while everything's different of course, everything's the same, or at least similar. More on that below.
2. I've removed the dead blogs and the gone blogs by the link list . . . sadly, I see that Brazen Brunette either was hacked or deleted her blog and gave the account away -- a single post in a foreign language now sits where Brazen's riveting, wrenching entries used to reside. Last I had read she seemed to be doing better -- I sincerely hope that she still is doing well and that losing the blog was a natural step in her progress and not a sign of something having gone wrong.
3. Using a feed reader made catching up convenient and and at the same time slightly horrifying . . . all that, all at once, from so many different sources.
But in the end it all works out . . . the big soap opera that is the blogosphere rolls on. Things do change, as they must, but the bigger thing, the community that no one will admit to belonging to, remains. Pieces slide in, pieces drop off, or change their shape, their frequency of appearance, but the whole morphs in tiny increments, just like the "real thing."
And when I say "soap opera," don't get Me wrong -- there is not a hint of negativity or condescension in that phrase. It's a soap opera, and that's a truly wonderful thing, because unlike an actual soap opera it's not only an escape, but entertaining and informative as well. It is something we create, out of whole cloth, out of the fabric of our lives and experience, and maintain. We learn from it, grow with it, change it or kill it when it no longer works.
It is . . . alive, and we make it live. Sometimes it's healthy to stop and not take for granted how amazingly cool that is.
YouTube Tuesday: The Perfect Pop Song (Tearjerker Division)
Tonight's entry is the Perfect Pop Song, Tearjerker Division: "The Last Worthless Evening" by Don Henley.
I can't listen to this song all the way through without crying . . . and a talented youtuber set the song to a collection of clips from Gilmore Girls, and it's well, perfect.
I can't listen to this song all the way through without crying . . . and a talented youtuber set the song to a collection of clips from Gilmore Girls, and it's well, perfect.
Happy Anniversary
Today is a year since tasha returned. A year officially, but in My heart she's been there from the beginning.Milestones are deceiving things, sometimes, in that they can lead us to focus on the wrong thing, i. e., what's gone before as opposed to what's to come. The latter is always more important. I learn from the past (hopefully), but I'm not beholden to or trapped by it. Numbers and dates are important to recognize and remember but in the end the most important number is the next one, the most important day, today.
Happy anniversary, tasha. I love you, more than ever. And thank you for your love, service, and devotion, for the past year, and before. And for all the days to come.
YouTube Tuesday: The Perfect Pop Song (Power Pop Division)
After much thought and highly scientific analysis, I'm eager the winner for The Perfect Pop Song, Power Pop Division.
The winner is "Did It In A Minute" by Hall and Oates. I could have picked "Private Eyes" or "Kiss On My List" or any number of other H&O masterpieces, but "Did It In A Minute" for Me, is the best of the lot.
[Note: You'll notice that this video doesn't come from youtube. "YouTube Tuesday" I hereby declare "Web Video Tuesday." I'll still call it YouTube Tuesday because it has a better ring to it.
"Well I still can't say I know
When a love is real or touch and go
And if two can be one
Who is the one two becomes oh oh
Am I quick enough to see
When I'm ready and it's right for me
I say, I say, I say, I say that I want it
(I think so anyway)
Everybody always laughs at love
But what they want is to be proven wrong
Then you came along
Oh you did it
You did it, you did it, you did it
You did it in a minute
I know you did it
You did it, you did it, you did it
You did it in a minute"
The winner is "Did It In A Minute" by Hall and Oates. I could have picked "Private Eyes" or "Kiss On My List" or any number of other H&O masterpieces, but "Did It In A Minute" for Me, is the best of the lot.
[Note: You'll notice that this video doesn't come from youtube. "YouTube Tuesday" I hereby declare "Web Video Tuesday." I'll still call it YouTube Tuesday because it has a better ring to it.
"Well I still can't say I know
When a love is real or touch and go
And if two can be one
Who is the one two becomes oh oh
Am I quick enough to see
When I'm ready and it's right for me
I say, I say, I say, I say that I want it
(I think so anyway)
Everybody always laughs at love
But what they want is to be proven wrong
Then you came along
Oh you did it
You did it, you did it, you did it
You did it in a minute
I know you did it
You did it, you did it, you did it
You did it in a minute"
It's Not Like Signing Up For A Gym Membership
thisgirl recently wrote here about slave contracts and wondered what contracts for Dominants would be like.
The entire contract thing is tricky in one sense since these contracts, being legally unenforceable, lack the ultimate hammer (i. e., legal recourse) and thus ultimately lose much of their potential force. But they are important and I'm sure in most cases feel "enforceable" in emotional terms (and certainly can have emotional consequences). So the area is interesting and important in this realm.
thisgirl proposes a "Dom contract" that goes like this:
And that's My problem.
thisgirl points out that these contracts are "relatively one-sided." Exactly. They're supposed to be. The relationship is inherently unequal. Master/Mistress and slave are "equal" as human beings, they are equal under the Constitution and the law, but they are not, in the terms that these contracts seek to address, in any way equal. That such contracts have no legal enforceability under US law emphasizes the point that the contract describes (and seeks to maintain) a state of affairs that is not equal. The quid pro quo aspect of typical contracts does not apply.
So for the submissive there has to be some "risk" in signing the contract, some area or factor(s) that leave at least a hint of uncomfortableness. Without that element the contract feels like a cubic zirconium engagement ring: important perhaps as a symbol but of extremely limited value.
All the usual disclaimers apply: If you submit when you feel like it, if you are casual play partners, if your Dom/me gives off weird psychokiller vibes, etc., then signing a contract isn't on the menu. Presumably, if the parties are at the point of contract signing, the "worthiness" of the Dominant is a settled question.
So, while I can't speak for any other Dominant, I wouldn't sign the contract thisgirl proposes.
The entire contract thing is tricky in one sense since these contracts, being legally unenforceable, lack the ultimate hammer (i. e., legal recourse) and thus ultimately lose much of their potential force. But they are important and I'm sure in most cases feel "enforceable" in emotional terms (and certainly can have emotional consequences). So the area is interesting and important in this realm.
thisgirl proposes a "Dom contract" that goes like this:
I agree to be your dominant.
I agree to look after you and to not abuse the control you have given me and the trust you have put in me.
I want to help develop and nurture your submission and help you understand this side of yourself.
I want to control you without taking over your life or ruining the parts of you that make you the woman I love.
I will never make you feel worthless or put you down. Though i cant promise not to say ‘your bum looks big in that’ because I will always be honest with you.
I will always be imaginative and inventive and most of all devious.
I will torture your body and push it to your limits but not overstep your boundaries.
I will keep the play interesting and not let it get boring or stale.
I will *never* wear a leather waistcoat, a flogger on my belt or parade around topless in fetish clubs but do my best to make *us* look and feel good.
I will show off my property and be proud always that you belong to me.
I will use you for my pleasure but make sure you get pleasure back (unless you’ve been really bad!)
I will loving control your body, your orgasms and your mind.
I will love you when you are bad just as much as when you’re obedient.
In return i want :-
Your submission
Your obedience
Your love
I want to share my fantasies with you and most of all to have fun and be happy together.
she then asks: "So . . . would he sign it?"
My answer to that is "I don't know if He would sign it but what submissive wouldn't?And that's My problem.
thisgirl points out that these contracts are "relatively one-sided." Exactly. They're supposed to be. The relationship is inherently unequal. Master/Mistress and slave are "equal" as human beings, they are equal under the Constitution and the law, but they are not, in the terms that these contracts seek to address, in any way equal. That such contracts have no legal enforceability under US law emphasizes the point that the contract describes (and seeks to maintain) a state of affairs that is not equal. The quid pro quo aspect of typical contracts does not apply.
So for the submissive there has to be some "risk" in signing the contract, some area or factor(s) that leave at least a hint of uncomfortableness. Without that element the contract feels like a cubic zirconium engagement ring: important perhaps as a symbol but of extremely limited value.
All the usual disclaimers apply: If you submit when you feel like it, if you are casual play partners, if your Dom/me gives off weird psychokiller vibes, etc., then signing a contract isn't on the menu. Presumably, if the parties are at the point of contract signing, the "worthiness" of the Dominant is a settled question.
So, while I can't speak for any other Dominant, I wouldn't sign the contract thisgirl proposes.
Happy Anniversary
August 31 marks three years that iris has been with Me.
I know I repeat Myself often here when I talk about the girls -- how amazing and wonderful they are, their incredible love and submission and devotion. But it's all I can do; it's simply true, and words are inadequate to describe how I feel at times like this so I end up using the same ones over and over.
iris, thank you for three fantastic years. To see how much you've moved and grown, how every aspect of your submission has deepened and expanded, is truly thrilling to Me. I love you, so much. Owning you is a joy, every day.
YouTube Tuesday: Bulls On Parade
Tonight's clip veers way off in the other direction -- "Bulls on Parade" by Rage Against The Machine.
I can't say I endorse Rage's politics, but their videos are some of the most evocative, effective four-minute propaganda films ever made. Taken simply as art (or as craft, if you must), Rage's videos represent some of the better examples of the art form in terms of images fusing with message.
"Weapons not food, not homes, not shoes
Not need, just feed tha war canibal animal
I walk tha corner to tha rubble that used to be a
Library
Line up to tha mind cemetery
What we dont know keeps tha contracts alive an
Movin
They dont gotta burn tha books they just remove em
While arms warehouses fill as quick as tha cells
Rally round tha family, pockets full of shells"
I can't say I endorse Rage's politics, but their videos are some of the most evocative, effective four-minute propaganda films ever made. Taken simply as art (or as craft, if you must), Rage's videos represent some of the better examples of the art form in terms of images fusing with message.
"Weapons not food, not homes, not shoes
Not need, just feed tha war canibal animal
I walk tha corner to tha rubble that used to be a
Library
Line up to tha mind cemetery
What we dont know keeps tha contracts alive an
Movin
They dont gotta burn tha books they just remove em
While arms warehouses fill as quick as tha cells
Rally round tha family, pockets full of shells"
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday, tasha . . . I love you so much. Thank you for being you, and for everything that you are, and do.
Update
1. I finally got around to going through the link list and removing the dead entries.So the link list to-do list now looks like this:
Subscribe to feeds from linked blogs
Catch up on linked blogs
Look for new links
Leave comments/Link-whore
2. As you may have seen, I posted the first part of a new Lenora X story last week. More soon.
3. My health issue continues to remain manageable/good, so that's a huge plus.
4. The thought occurred to Me yesterday that it's seven months since I last smoked. I don't necessarily feel tremendously better physically as a result but it does feel very good to have accomplished quitting.
5. Some significant events coming up in Lenora-land soon: tasha's birthday and iris' third anniversary. As always, iris, storm, and tasha are My inspiration, My pride, and My joy. I love them so much.
6. I hope everyone is well and happy. KAHTATUS.
End Of The (Sitemeter) Era
I don't know all the gory details and background, but it's come to My attention (a few months late apparently) that sitemeter, the hit counter you (used to) see at the bottom of the page, has been allowing the placement of spy tracking cookies in the sitemeter code.
Apparently, sitemeter will move users to a special server if they don't wish this to happen, or I could revert to the non-Javascript version of the counter.
The easier solution for Me is to just use a different counter.
Not that I think that third-party marketers are necessarily clamoring for My meager readership, and certainly I'm not selling anything. But on principle it seems to Me the right thing to do is to dump sitemeter.
The counter that now appears at the bottom of the page is spy-cookie free.
Apparently, sitemeter will move users to a special server if they don't wish this to happen, or I could revert to the non-Javascript version of the counter.
The easier solution for Me is to just use a different counter.
Not that I think that third-party marketers are necessarily clamoring for My meager readership, and certainly I'm not selling anything. But on principle it seems to Me the right thing to do is to dump sitemeter.
The counter that now appears at the bottom of the page is spy-cookie free.
YouTube Tuesday: Don't Talk About The War
Tonight's clip is a snippet from Fawlty Towers, perhaps the best sitcom ever created on either side of the Atlantic. There are, I think, only twelve episodes of Fawlty Towers. Watching them, on realizes that the reason for that is that there are really only twelve basic sitcom plots, and Fawlty Towers does each and every one to perfection.
In this clip, Basil (John Cleese) tries to "not talk about the War" as he waits on a table of German guests. I must've seen this twenty times, and I still laugh as hard every time.
In this clip, Basil (John Cleese) tries to "not talk about the War" as he waits on a table of German guests. I must've seen this twenty times, and I still laugh as hard every time.
YouTube Tuesday: Hesitation Blues
A little too much soul-searching in the YTT clips lately . . . I had intended to resume the search for the World's Greatest Pop Song but then this caught My eye.
Tonight's clip is Hot Tuna performing one of the many many recorded versions of "Hesitation Blues."
As simple as it gets. A guitar and a bass. A blues song that is as straightforward as they come. But what Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Cassidy are able to do with these simplest of ingredients really is magical.
Tonight's clip is Hot Tuna performing one of the many many recorded versions of "Hesitation Blues."
As simple as it gets. A guitar and a bass. A blues song that is as straightforward as they come. But what Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Cassidy are able to do with these simplest of ingredients really is magical.
YouTube Tuesday: A Case Of You
Tonight's video is a little slide show, but I chose it for the song.
"A Case Of You" by Joni Mitchell.
"A Case of You" is Joni at her mesmerizing best, showing why she's head and shoulders above any of her so-called singer/songwriter contemporaries. Listen to Mitchell's voice in this video and it's clear (no pun intended) she sings Judy Collins or Joan Baez or anyone else of that era (or this) under the table. Her songwriting is on a par with anyone's . . . "A Case Of You" is a perfect little bittersweet bullet of a song, pure -- one of the few pieces of music I'd ever consider applying the word "luminous" to.
"You are in my blood like holy wine
Taste so bitter and so sweet
Oh, I could drink a case of you
And still be on my feet . . .
I would still be on my feet"
"A Case Of You" by Joni Mitchell.
"A Case of You" is Joni at her mesmerizing best, showing why she's head and shoulders above any of her so-called singer/songwriter contemporaries. Listen to Mitchell's voice in this video and it's clear (no pun intended) she sings Judy Collins or Joan Baez or anyone else of that era (or this) under the table. Her songwriting is on a par with anyone's . . . "A Case Of You" is a perfect little bittersweet bullet of a song, pure -- one of the few pieces of music I'd ever consider applying the word "luminous" to.
"You are in my blood like holy wine
Taste so bitter and so sweet
Oh, I could drink a case of you
And still be on my feet . . .
I would still be on my feet"
My health troubles of late have kept Me from doing much here aside from doggedly maintaining the weekly YouTube Tuesday video clips (I can tell from the barrage of comments on each one how much that's appreciated).
A bit more on the health stuff. It is serious but not life-threatening, ranging in severity from annoying to semi-debilitating. Good days and bad days. I do go to work every day, and I make it to the end most days.
So I still have a more or less normal life. The problem is that by the time evening comes, the energy I have I put into being with My girls and the odd baseball article for armchairgm.com. Plus, on some evenings I take a pain pill and well, responsible bloggers don't blog under the influence of controlled substances. Weekends I need the extra rest.
It is slowly getting better, however, and before too long I expect the health issue to be pretty much an afterthought, and I'll have more energy for the thought pieces and the fiction.
Until then, you are in My thoughts . . . and I look forward to really settling down and being able to catch up on everyone's lives, update/clean up the link list, and resume link-whoring with vigor.
KAHTATUS.
YouTube Tuesday: The (Analog) Digital Music Video As Performace Art
Tonight's clip is a video of a vinyl record playing on a turntable.
That the song, "Blank Generation" by Richard Hell and the Voidoids, is a major favorite of Mine ends up being almost an afterthought.
Perhaps it's just Me, but I sat and watched that turntable spin for three minutes and it felt like thirty seconds. It was hypnotic -- watching (and listening) to the analog . . . digital . . . something about it carried Me away.
And the song, well . . . I love the song.
"I was sayin' let me outta here
Before I was even born
It's such a gamble when you get a face
It's fascinatin' to observe what the mirror does
But when I dine
It's to the wall that I set a place . . . "
That the song, "Blank Generation" by Richard Hell and the Voidoids, is a major favorite of Mine ends up being almost an afterthought.
Perhaps it's just Me, but I sat and watched that turntable spin for three minutes and it felt like thirty seconds. It was hypnotic -- watching (and listening) to the analog . . . digital . . . something about it carried Me away.
And the song, well . . . I love the song.
"I was sayin' let me outta here
Before I was even born
It's such a gamble when you get a face
It's fascinatin' to observe what the mirror does
But when I dine
It's to the wall that I set a place . . . "
The Cosmic Pep Talk For The Cosmic Pep Talker
I was talking to a girl who had just broken up with her Mistress, and I mean just, at the time we were talking.
I've written before of The Cosmic Pep Talk, which can be summarized as follows: Not everything that happens to the submissive is about the submissive.
And that is meant in both the positive and negative senses, in that, not only is everything that goes right not necessarily the sole result of your wonderfulness, but also everything that goes wrong certainly isn't a result solely of your horribleness. It's amazing how easily a submissive will accept the first part yet have a very difficult time accepting the second part.
In this particular case I didn't deliver the Cosmic Pep Talk per se. The breakup was a little too fresh . . . it wouldn't have had the appropriate impact, I thought.
But being in that situation, talking to someone fresh from the loss and the hurt (and the anger, simmering beneath the surface, but there) ends up being good for Me, because it reminds Me of the simple truth and overwhleming importance of the Cosmic Pep Talk.
Because, after all, if everything that happens to the submissive isn't about the submissive, then there's no escaping that everything that happens to the Dominant isn't about the Dominant, as difficult as it can be at times for My ego to accept.
YouTube Tuesday: Who Do You Love?
One of my favorite things about youtube and its ilk are the videos where someone just decides that X might go with Y, even though X and Y are so seemingly different.
Tonight's clip is a great example of that. Take clips from the movie adaptation of Anne Rice's Queen of the Damned and pair them George Thorogood's perfect, rollicking cover of the Bo Diddley classic, "Who Do You Love?" To call that non-obvious is an understatement.
It's hot, it's creepy, it's nutty, by turns. It works. Kudos to its creator.
Tonight's clip is a great example of that. Take clips from the movie adaptation of Anne Rice's Queen of the Damned and pair them George Thorogood's perfect, rollicking cover of the Bo Diddley classic, "Who Do You Love?" To call that non-obvious is an understatement.
It's hot, it's creepy, it's nutty, by turns. It works. Kudos to its creator.
Brief
Health issues have been more or less consuming lately, and the blogging/writing energy just isn't there.
Will be better soon. KAHTATUS.
Will be better soon. KAHTATUS.
YouTube Tuesday: Sabotage
Sometimes, it just has to be the Beastie Boys. They've been around a long time in a crushingly competitive, relentlessly forward-moving genre where acts come and go like fireflies.
They've done that by maintaining a unique sound while not coming off as inflexible. Their videos are far above the hip hop standard for creativity, and they can still write and still rhyme.
"Sabotage" takes 70s cop shows (particularly Starsky and Hutch, I get the feeling) as its inspiration. It's fun, ridiculously exaggerated, yet somehow reverent to that style at the time.
"I can't stand it I know you planned it
But I'm gonna set it straight, this Watergate
I can't stand rocking when I'm in here
Because your crystal ball ain't so crystal clear
So while you sit back and wonder why
I got this fucking thorn in my side
Oh my, it's a mirage
I'm tellin' y'all it's a sabotage"
They've done that by maintaining a unique sound while not coming off as inflexible. Their videos are far above the hip hop standard for creativity, and they can still write and still rhyme.
"Sabotage" takes 70s cop shows (particularly Starsky and Hutch, I get the feeling) as its inspiration. It's fun, ridiculously exaggerated, yet somehow reverent to that style at the time.
"I can't stand it I know you planned it
But I'm gonna set it straight, this Watergate
I can't stand rocking when I'm in here
Because your crystal ball ain't so crystal clear
So while you sit back and wonder why
I got this fucking thorn in my side
Oh my, it's a mirage
I'm tellin' y'all it's a sabotage"
YouTube Tuesday: Super Freak
Tonight's clip is "Super Freak" by the late Rick James.
There are things in life that one might describe as "compellingly hideous" (or "hideously compelling," I suppose), but few can match early 80s style in that category.
Rick James, with "Super Freak" takes it all to some other level. The girls. The clothes. The glitter in his hair. The song about sex, more or less, that is incredibly non-erotic.
This video takes the carbon of a time and style and presses it into a cheesetastic diamond of pure, wildly enjoyable, horribleness.
Enjoy. You will feel physically dirty after doing so. But at the same time, so right. I promise.
There are things in life that one might describe as "compellingly hideous" (or "hideously compelling," I suppose), but few can match early 80s style in that category.
Rick James, with "Super Freak" takes it all to some other level. The girls. The clothes. The glitter in his hair. The song about sex, more or less, that is incredibly non-erotic.
This video takes the carbon of a time and style and presses it into a cheesetastic diamond of pure, wildly enjoyable, horribleness.
Enjoy. You will feel physically dirty after doing so. But at the same time, so right. I promise.
Dice-table Wisdom
I have been known to go the casino every now and then and I can be found at the craps table when I go. Of all the casino games, craps has the ambiance I like and, if you're smart, a reasonable chance of winning without the mechanical feel of system blackjack.
One night I was playing craps and a guy not far from My spot was in the midst of a modest comeback after a protracted bad streak. "Rome wasn't built in a day," he said as he collected another small winning bet, meaning by that aphorism that if he kept his discipline and didn't try to win it all back at once, he'd end up all right.
On the other side of Me, another patron, straight out of a casting call for Guys and Dolls, glanced somewhat skeptically at the fellow and said, out of his hearing, "but it only took one night to burn it down."
I had to laugh. Now, if I recall My history, Nero's fire in Rome actually burned for something like a month. But I knew what the gentleman was getting at with his sotto voce assessment. Mr. "Rome wasn't built in a day" found himself where he found himself more from his own lack of discipline than as a result of any astoundingly bad run of dice, and that it wouldn't be long before the plunger reverted to his unshakable habits.
I've incorporated that "but it only took one night to burn it down" saying not only into My supply of humorous remarks but also into My thinking about life, and about this lifestyle.
We work and work and work . . . we struggle to be better . . . as Dominant or submissive. And I have written, more than once, about how progress is that long long string of infinitesimal notches forward, only seen when we turn and stop to look at how far we've come. And while that's true, it's also true that it's so easy to let ourselves down, (and others), to undo so much of what we've done, to unthinkingly cut that string, our hard-earned pearls falling and scattering everywhere.
I have no particular reason for calling this idea to mind, tonight. No profound conclusion. Just perhaps a reminder to Myself, and to whomever might find it the right thought today, to always be on the lookout for unwittingly setting that fire that burns the whole thing down.
One night I was playing craps and a guy not far from My spot was in the midst of a modest comeback after a protracted bad streak. "Rome wasn't built in a day," he said as he collected another small winning bet, meaning by that aphorism that if he kept his discipline and didn't try to win it all back at once, he'd end up all right.
On the other side of Me, another patron, straight out of a casting call for Guys and Dolls, glanced somewhat skeptically at the fellow and said, out of his hearing, "but it only took one night to burn it down."
I had to laugh. Now, if I recall My history, Nero's fire in Rome actually burned for something like a month. But I knew what the gentleman was getting at with his sotto voce assessment. Mr. "Rome wasn't built in a day" found himself where he found himself more from his own lack of discipline than as a result of any astoundingly bad run of dice, and that it wouldn't be long before the plunger reverted to his unshakable habits.
I've incorporated that "but it only took one night to burn it down" saying not only into My supply of humorous remarks but also into My thinking about life, and about this lifestyle.
We work and work and work . . . we struggle to be better . . . as Dominant or submissive. And I have written, more than once, about how progress is that long long string of infinitesimal notches forward, only seen when we turn and stop to look at how far we've come. And while that's true, it's also true that it's so easy to let ourselves down, (and others), to undo so much of what we've done, to unthinkingly cut that string, our hard-earned pearls falling and scattering everywhere.
I have no particular reason for calling this idea to mind, tonight. No profound conclusion. Just perhaps a reminder to Myself, and to whomever might find it the right thought today, to always be on the lookout for unwittingly setting that fire that burns the whole thing down.
YouTube Tuesday: Not The Kind of "Girl Fight" You're Used To
Tonight's clip is a fight scene from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, featuring Ziyi Zhang and Michelle Yeoh. While fight scenes in general and martial arts in particular aren't typically My thing, this clip is great on several levels.
1. There is none of the catoonish unreality that has become the stock and trade of martial arts films. This is one of the more plausible fight scenes you'll see in a movie.
2. While being realistic/plausible, still the choreography is there, and it's stunning.
3. The whole "girl fight" thing. Hollywood and the male imagination have a hard-on for a "cat fight"; this fight scene, with two undeniably attractive women, turns that whole thing on its head . . . and really brings that different fighting energy to the fore.
Enjoy this compelling, gorgeous clip.
1. There is none of the catoonish unreality that has become the stock and trade of martial arts films. This is one of the more plausible fight scenes you'll see in a movie.
2. While being realistic/plausible, still the choreography is there, and it's stunning.
3. The whole "girl fight" thing. Hollywood and the male imagination have a hard-on for a "cat fight"; this fight scene, with two undeniably attractive women, turns that whole thing on its head . . . and really brings that different fighting energy to the fore.
Enjoy this compelling, gorgeous clip.
YouTube Tuesday: When I Say "Energy Drink," You Say . . .
"Latex Catsuit!" Of course!
Tonight's video is a behind the scenes look at a photoshoot for Hype Energy Drink. Hype's marketing strategy seems to be "hot blondes in black latex always sell." Not exactly original but it might well end up being effective. You know the girls are hot because you actually tune out the annoying music after a minute or so.
I've never tried Hype, and I don't drink energy drinks, so I have no idea if Hype is any good or not.
Nice ads, though.
Tonight's video is a behind the scenes look at a photoshoot for Hype Energy Drink. Hype's marketing strategy seems to be "hot blondes in black latex always sell." Not exactly original but it might well end up being effective. You know the girls are hot because you actually tune out the annoying music after a minute or so.
I've never tried Hype, and I don't drink energy drinks, so I have no idea if Hype is any good or not.
Nice ads, though.
This/That
1. I hope everyone's summer is gearing up nicely. Summer here in the Northeast seems to flash by so quickly . . . I try hard to savor it.
2. I've not been a great blogworld citizen lately. I haven't been reading My link list a whole lot, and I know there are some now-dead links there. And a couple of once-regular reads have gone invite-only. Please, I need invites. If I can't see your blog I can't see your profile and that means I can't e-mail you to ask for said invite.
I will get caught up on My reading and get the link list in order. It is also time for a fresh round of link-whoring so I'll have to work that in at some point, too.
3. The writing projects are creeping along. The motivation is fairly low right now; it will return.
4. Tiggr, I have not ignored/discarded the interview questions you sent Me. I just haven't yet given Myself the time to sit down and address them in the thoughtful manner they deserve. I also will see what I can do about writing another Fantasy Friday story one of these days.
5. I hope everyone is doing really well, and getting what you each want/need out of life. I may not be reading as often as I should, but I'm thinking about you . . .
KAHTATUS.
YouTube Tuesday: Let Forever Be
Tonight's clip is the Chemical Brothers' "Let Forever Be."
I love this video . . . of course like most videos I like it went totally unnoticed (not sure it was ever played on MTV or VH-1), which is a real shame.
"Let Forever Be" so perfectly captures the dreams and daydreams we all have . . . the random thoughts and urges that come to us, waking and sleeping, the jumbled-up way things happen in dreams, and the way "reality" seems to often come on in bites too big to swallow.
"How does it feel like, to make it happening?
How does it feel like, to breathe with everything?
How does it feel like, to let forever be?"
I love this video . . . of course like most videos I like it went totally unnoticed (not sure it was ever played on MTV or VH-1), which is a real shame.
"Let Forever Be" so perfectly captures the dreams and daydreams we all have . . . the random thoughts and urges that come to us, waking and sleeping, the jumbled-up way things happen in dreams, and the way "reality" seems to often come on in bites too big to swallow.
"How does it feel like, to make it happening?
How does it feel like, to breathe with everything?
How does it feel like, to let forever be?"
Thinking Styles Applied to subspace and Topspace , Part 1
D'jaevle recently posted a piece discussing how the Dominant feels in a scene, contrasting the not-very-well analyzed phenomenon of what I refer to as "Topspace" with the (excessively?) discussed phenomenon of subspace.
For whatever reason, the difference between what the Dominant is thinking/feeling as opposed to what the submissive is thinking/feeling brought to mind a recent article I saw in some magazine or other about problem-solving approaches (I can't for the life of Me remember what magazine; if I did I'd hunt down the article an credit the author).
I just skimmed the article but the part that came to mind in reading D'jaevle's post had to do with the author's definition of three types of thinking in problem-solving situations. The author defined a hierarchy of increasing complexity and usefulness, starting with "event thinking" at the bottom, moving up to "pattern thinking" and finally "structure thinking" at the top.
Event thinking is essentially, reacting. X happens -- what do I do?
Pattern thinking takes into account that X happens a lot and looks for a consistent approach that can be applied in a non-reactive way. High-gloss, highly-touted "improvement" programs like Six Sigma are essentially pattern thinking dressed up to look complex (and expensive).
Structure thinking seeks to take the entire system into account and to thus be truly proactive. Carried to its fullest extent, theoretically at least, structure thinking transcends problem solving because it seeks to prevent problems from occurring. Obviously that is an ideal -- there will never be 100% success.
So how does this relate to the varying ways in which submissives and Dominants think and feel during a scene?
Much of what a sub does in a scene is, perforce, event thinking. he or she is at the mercy of the Other, and assuming the parties are not simply acting out a rehearsed scene, the submissive has to be in "reacting" mode most of the time.
And really that is the way it should be. The beauty and power of subspace is precisely that it is not a thinking state. It is not fostered by complex analysis and is more or less immune to being rationally analyzed.
For the Dominant, I'm going to draw a distinction: A good Top need only concern Him- or Herself with pattern thinking, whereas the relationship Dom/me must incorporate structure thinking in His or Her approach.
More on that in Part 2.
For whatever reason, the difference between what the Dominant is thinking/feeling as opposed to what the submissive is thinking/feeling brought to mind a recent article I saw in some magazine or other about problem-solving approaches (I can't for the life of Me remember what magazine; if I did I'd hunt down the article an credit the author).
I just skimmed the article but the part that came to mind in reading D'jaevle's post had to do with the author's definition of three types of thinking in problem-solving situations. The author defined a hierarchy of increasing complexity and usefulness, starting with "event thinking" at the bottom, moving up to "pattern thinking" and finally "structure thinking" at the top.
Event thinking is essentially, reacting. X happens -- what do I do?
Pattern thinking takes into account that X happens a lot and looks for a consistent approach that can be applied in a non-reactive way. High-gloss, highly-touted "improvement" programs like Six Sigma are essentially pattern thinking dressed up to look complex (and expensive).
Structure thinking seeks to take the entire system into account and to thus be truly proactive. Carried to its fullest extent, theoretically at least, structure thinking transcends problem solving because it seeks to prevent problems from occurring. Obviously that is an ideal -- there will never be 100% success.
So how does this relate to the varying ways in which submissives and Dominants think and feel during a scene?
Much of what a sub does in a scene is, perforce, event thinking. he or she is at the mercy of the Other, and assuming the parties are not simply acting out a rehearsed scene, the submissive has to be in "reacting" mode most of the time.
And really that is the way it should be. The beauty and power of subspace is precisely that it is not a thinking state. It is not fostered by complex analysis and is more or less immune to being rationally analyzed.
For the Dominant, I'm going to draw a distinction: A good Top need only concern Him- or Herself with pattern thinking, whereas the relationship Dom/me must incorporate structure thinking in His or Her approach.
More on that in Part 2.
YouTube Tuesday: Underworld
Tonight's clip is the trailer for the movie Underworld.
Underworld and its sequel, Underworld: Evolution tell the story of the vampires, and the lychens, werewolf-like creatures created by the vampires to be a servant race.
I picked this clip because even though I loved the two films, I realize that they might not be everyone's cup of tea. But what should have more or less universal appeal is the absolutely gorgeous Kate Beckinsale, often in leather. Immortal indeed.
Underworld and its sequel, Underworld: Evolution tell the story of the vampires, and the lychens, werewolf-like creatures created by the vampires to be a servant race.
I picked this clip because even though I loved the two films, I realize that they might not be everyone's cup of tea. But what should have more or less universal appeal is the absolutely gorgeous Kate Beckinsale, often in leather. Immortal indeed.
Penny Wise and Pound Foolish
I happened to find Myself last week in the unenviable position of having to return something to a major chain store, without a receipt.
Not good. But I was going to be happy with store credit. It's not like I'm going to get all nuts and demand cash back when I no longer had had the receipt.
The cashier, upon learning that I had no receipt, summoned the second-demi-hemi-quasi-assistant manager over to deal with My non-standard transaction.
Things did not start off well. The managerial type, who I'll call Brutus, regarded Me with instant dislike and disdain. And I react to that sort of treatment . . . well you can most likely guess.
I am trying to return three items.
Item 1, I bought from their website, and thus can't return at the store. Wow, isn't that convenient?
Item 2, they claim isn't in their database. OK, maybe this is My error . . . I guess I didn't buy it there (I did, of course, but no point in arguing).
Item 3 they can't find a reason to deny the return of and My non-standard transaction is underway.
Well, sort of. Brutus asks for My driver's license and starts entering things into some other machine (not the register).
"What's that?" I ask.
"The Fraud Detection System," Brutus says, unhappier now, not looking up. "Every time there's a return without a receipt we have to run it through the Fraud Detection System."
"Oh," I say pleasantly. "And what is it all about?" I know exactly what it's all about but I'm going to make this self-important little bastard explain. In fabulous fucking detail.
"It checks to see how many returns have been done with this license . . . " Brutus says, more impatient, more annoyed, now.
"Ohhhhh, I see." I"m sounding very impressed by Brutus' grasp of high-tech security measures. "Over what period of time does it check?"
Brutus mumbles something unintelligible, and I stifle a laugh. Brutus has no idea what the answer is.
This goes on for a while and I'm being nice and making Brutus more and more miserable with each passing moment, when I realize how fucking long this is taking.
Finally, the Fraud Detection System has determined that I am not an Al-Qaida operative bringing Death To America by making a bogus return for $27.14 and the actual transaction can begin.
Which doesn't take too long. Brutus creates and authorizes the gift card, and hands it to Me, along with My license back. But he's handed the license back to Me upside-down.
"That's how they teach you to hand a license back in Manager's Training School?" Brutus hands Me back My license properly, no longer maintaining even the previous minimal effort to hide his contempt.
Thanks.
Bitch.
Leaving the store, I resolve to never ever shop there, or on their website again. And then I wonder. Is the Fraud Detection System really worth it? Plus it amounts to profiling, which is going at some point to get this store in some very hot water when the Fraud Detection System fingers the wrong person and the wrong person decides to make a big issue out of it.
You can tell Me that it's people, that My bad experience was caused more by Brutus' assholish behavior than by the Fraud Detection System. But you'd be only partially right. Yes, Brutus made it worse, but I had to stand there for 10 minutes while I was put through what amounts to a "guilty until proven innocent" procedure. And the nicest second-demi-hemi-quasi-assistant manager in the world isn't going to make that better. Throw in the "can't buy on-line and return at the store" policy and it's a done deal.
I am, and will remain, an ex-customer.
Not good. But I was going to be happy with store credit. It's not like I'm going to get all nuts and demand cash back when I no longer had had the receipt.
The cashier, upon learning that I had no receipt, summoned the second-demi-hemi-quasi-assistant manager over to deal with My non-standard transaction.
Things did not start off well. The managerial type, who I'll call Brutus, regarded Me with instant dislike and disdain. And I react to that sort of treatment . . . well you can most likely guess.
I am trying to return three items.
Item 1, I bought from their website, and thus can't return at the store. Wow, isn't that convenient?
Item 2, they claim isn't in their database. OK, maybe this is My error . . . I guess I didn't buy it there (I did, of course, but no point in arguing).
Item 3 they can't find a reason to deny the return of and My non-standard transaction is underway.
Well, sort of. Brutus asks for My driver's license and starts entering things into some other machine (not the register).
"What's that?" I ask.
"The Fraud Detection System," Brutus says, unhappier now, not looking up. "Every time there's a return without a receipt we have to run it through the Fraud Detection System."
"Oh," I say pleasantly. "And what is it all about?" I know exactly what it's all about but I'm going to make this self-important little bastard explain. In fabulous fucking detail.
"It checks to see how many returns have been done with this license . . . " Brutus says, more impatient, more annoyed, now.
"Ohhhhh, I see." I"m sounding very impressed by Brutus' grasp of high-tech security measures. "Over what period of time does it check?"
Brutus mumbles something unintelligible, and I stifle a laugh. Brutus has no idea what the answer is.
This goes on for a while and I'm being nice and making Brutus more and more miserable with each passing moment, when I realize how fucking long this is taking.
Finally, the Fraud Detection System has determined that I am not an Al-Qaida operative bringing Death To America by making a bogus return for $27.14 and the actual transaction can begin.
Which doesn't take too long. Brutus creates and authorizes the gift card, and hands it to Me, along with My license back. But he's handed the license back to Me upside-down.
"That's how they teach you to hand a license back in Manager's Training School?" Brutus hands Me back My license properly, no longer maintaining even the previous minimal effort to hide his contempt.
Thanks.
Bitch.
Leaving the store, I resolve to never ever shop there, or on their website again. And then I wonder. Is the Fraud Detection System really worth it? Plus it amounts to profiling, which is going at some point to get this store in some very hot water when the Fraud Detection System fingers the wrong person and the wrong person decides to make a big issue out of it.
You can tell Me that it's people, that My bad experience was caused more by Brutus' assholish behavior than by the Fraud Detection System. But you'd be only partially right. Yes, Brutus made it worse, but I had to stand there for 10 minutes while I was put through what amounts to a "guilty until proven innocent" procedure. And the nicest second-demi-hemi-quasi-assistant manager in the world isn't going to make that better. Throw in the "can't buy on-line and return at the store" policy and it's a done deal.
I am, and will remain, an ex-customer.
YouTube Tuesday: Falling In Love Is . . .
Tonight's clip is "Falling In Love (Is So Hard On The Knees)" by Aerosmith.
Aerosmith, in many ways the Amercian rock band, have it all down perfectly. Just the right balance between songwriting, musicianship, and humor. (And not shy about funning themselves -- "Don't give me no lip / I got enough of my own" Tyler sings in this song.)
And a healthy dose of eroticism, also. I can't begin to make the "story line" of this video comprehensible but there a few D/s-y type sequences.
But that's just bonus. It's a great song.
Aerosmith, in many ways the Amercian rock band, have it all down perfectly. Just the right balance between songwriting, musicianship, and humor. (And not shy about funning themselves -- "Don't give me no lip / I got enough of my own" Tyler sings in this song.)
And a healthy dose of eroticism, also. I can't begin to make the "story line" of this video comprehensible but there a few D/s-y type sequences.
But that's just bonus. It's a great song.
YouTube Tuesday: Slither
I mentioned that week in introducing the Stone Temple Pilots' clip that STP lead singer is now singing for Velvet Revolver. VR is three former members of Guns N' Roses, Scott Weiland from the aforementioned STP, and a guy from Wasted Youth for a (very) little punk cred.
Regardless of ancestry, VR can rock when they put their minds to it. Slash still still play, Scott can still sing.
I like this song, "Slither" in part for the vaguely D/s lyrics, but decent lyrics never saved a bad song. Thankfully "Slither" is a good song.
P. S. engrailed: Still think Scott's hot? In this video, I'm leaning to the "not so much" answer. But your mileage may vary.
Regardless of ancestry, VR can rock when they put their minds to it. Slash still still play, Scott can still sing.
I like this song, "Slither" in part for the vaguely D/s lyrics, but decent lyrics never saved a bad song. Thankfully "Slither" is a good song.
P. S. engrailed: Still think Scott's hot? In this video, I'm leaning to the "not so much" answer. But your mileage may vary.
Re-finding The Way
swan wrote:
"I know, from experience, that the solution (when I'm feeling off balance) is not to abandon the slave path that is the correct way for me, but to renew my dedication and attention to it. The place of calm and rest and security and simple freedom for my spirit, heart, and mind is found as I turn fully toward Him."
It is so much the same on the other side.
But not always so obvious. The very nature of the roles dictates, to a degree, that more often than not it's going to be assumed that the submissive has lost his or her way. Additionally, in My experience Dominants are less likely to acknowledge or understand that They might be the One "off balance"; and in fact the lessened ability to see that off-balance condition is often a reflection of the very confidence that the submissive seeks in a Dominant.
As for being able to see it more clearly, or sooner, I don't know of any remedy, expect perhaps to place sticky notes around the house that read "maybe it's You."
But once seen, the remedy is just what swan described. Renewed attention. Renewed dedication. Immersing Oneself in what led Owner and owned to each other in the first place.
Ridiculously simple, and inexplicably powerful -- somehow it jolts one with the shock of the new, no matter how many times experienced before.
"I know, from experience, that the solution (when I'm feeling off balance) is not to abandon the slave path that is the correct way for me, but to renew my dedication and attention to it. The place of calm and rest and security and simple freedom for my spirit, heart, and mind is found as I turn fully toward Him."
It is so much the same on the other side.
But not always so obvious. The very nature of the roles dictates, to a degree, that more often than not it's going to be assumed that the submissive has lost his or her way. Additionally, in My experience Dominants are less likely to acknowledge or understand that They might be the One "off balance"; and in fact the lessened ability to see that off-balance condition is often a reflection of the very confidence that the submissive seeks in a Dominant.
As for being able to see it more clearly, or sooner, I don't know of any remedy, expect perhaps to place sticky notes around the house that read "maybe it's You."
But once seen, the remedy is just what swan described. Renewed attention. Renewed dedication. Immersing Oneself in what led Owner and owned to each other in the first place.
Ridiculously simple, and inexplicably powerful -- somehow it jolts one with the shock of the new, no matter how many times experienced before.
YouTube Tuesday: Big Bang Baby
OK, back on track (there is a track -- pay attention!) . . .
The Stone Temple Pilots eventually broke up (supposedly) because lead singer Scott Weiland's heroin problem just became too unmanageable.
Well, Scott is now the lead singer for Velvet Revolver, tyvfm. So either Scott's cleaned up his act (I hope) or Velvet Revolver simply has lower standards where lead singers' drug use is concerned.
Anyway . . . Big Bang Baby is one of My favorites from STP . . . this video is wonderfully low-budget, which fits in nicely with the lyrics oblique portrayal of the flip side of the rock star life.
"Does anybody know how the story really goes, how the story really goes
Or do we all just hum along
Sell your soul and sign an autograph
Big bang baby, it's a crash, crash, crash
I wanna cry, but I gotta laugh
Orange crush mama is a laugh, laugh, laugh"
The Stone Temple Pilots eventually broke up (supposedly) because lead singer Scott Weiland's heroin problem just became too unmanageable.
Well, Scott is now the lead singer for Velvet Revolver, tyvfm. So either Scott's cleaned up his act (I hope) or Velvet Revolver simply has lower standards where lead singers' drug use is concerned.
Anyway . . . Big Bang Baby is one of My favorites from STP . . . this video is wonderfully low-budget, which fits in nicely with the lyrics oblique portrayal of the flip side of the rock star life.
"Does anybody know how the story really goes, how the story really goes
Or do we all just hum along
Sell your soul and sign an autograph
Big bang baby, it's a crash, crash, crash
I wanna cry, but I gotta laugh
Orange crush mama is a laugh, laugh, laugh"
Falling Behind/Need an Invite
I'm behind on My writing and on My reading. So I know the link list needs some updating.
But . . . what really distresses Me is that desiree's blog is now invite only.
I can't find her blogger profile, so I can't e-mail her and ask her to invite Me in.
desiree . . . I hope you read this and send Me an invite. I miss reading you.
But . . . what really distresses Me is that desiree's blog is now invite only.
I can't find her blogger profile, so I can't e-mail her and ask her to invite Me in.
desiree . . . I hope you read this and send Me an invite. I miss reading you.
YouTube Tuesday: "1979"
I'm not the world's biggest Smashing Pumpkins fan, but to Me, their song 1979 is a bona fide masterpiece.
By turns funny, then heartrending, 1979 mashes the indestructibility of youth against the inevitability of mortality and the quietly terrifying thought lurking in the background that none of it really matters anyway.
Few songs actually make Me cry. 1979 can, on the right (wrong?) day.
"And we don't know just where our bones will rest
To dust I guess
Forgotten and absorbed into the earth below
The street heats the urgency of sound
As you can see theres no one around"
By turns funny, then heartrending, 1979 mashes the indestructibility of youth against the inevitability of mortality and the quietly terrifying thought lurking in the background that none of it really matters anyway.
Few songs actually make Me cry. 1979 can, on the right (wrong?) day.
"And we don't know just where our bones will rest
To dust I guess
Forgotten and absorbed into the earth below
The street heats the urgency of sound
As you can see theres no one around"
YouTube Tuesday: Crushing On Condi
There's someone for everyone, if not to be with then at least to long for. In today's clip singer Maxine Lapiduss knows who her soulmate would be . . .
Funny, fun, and with some very clever lyrics.
Funny, fun, and with some very clever lyrics.
Grace
this girl wrote:
"Why is it so much harder to be gracious then it is to spew anger and venom?
Perhaps it's the person involved
Perhaps it's my frustration at a vanilla life situation
Perhaps it's dealing with old feelings of rejection brought on by the night before He left.
Perhaps it's PMS
Perhaps it's that i just need more sleep
Perhaps it's the person involved
Perhaps it's me! (what? me? pfft! perish the thought!)
i WANT to 'spew' grace - or spread grace or exude grace or share grace"
This whole area is an important one for Me, and I've written on this more than once.
All those possible reasons that this girl listed could very well be factors -- they usually are. I find that most people's orientation is to the right thing, unless other stuff gets in the way. And yeah, that other stuff can be lack of sleep or PMS or not fitting into your jeans or stupid girl stuff or stupid boy stuff or stupid job stuff or (insert any one of 6,594 other things here). It happens to us all.
Grace, in this context, can really be defined as "being less under the influence of 'stuff' than the other person currently is." And being less under the influence of stuff is the result of being able to take that little pause I'veharped on written about before.
Grace is breathing. Stop. Walk around the block. Twice. Run in place a minute or two. Watch three minutes of Sanford and Son on TV Land. Realize that whatever you're momentarily angry about is much less important than what you're about to give away by giving in to that anger.
Grace is creating that tiny little bit of clear space inside. And almost magically, once opened up, a realization pops into that space. The realization that anger is its own punishment, that the anger and bitterness of the other person diminishes that person, not you. The realization that expressing that anger and bitterness, while it might feel momentarily liberating, is slowly but inexorably imprisoning us in a way of thinking and feeling that is self-limiting and ultimately destructive.
Grace, this sought after, golden thing that differentiates adult from adolescent, Master or Mistress from control freak, submissive from brat, is achieved by the consistent application of the most prosaic, almost silly things. Grace is stopping one pattern and starting another. And once started that pattern is joyfully hard to stop. And gradually one, in this girl's words, spews grace.
"Why is it so much harder to be gracious then it is to spew anger and venom?
Perhaps it's the person involved
Perhaps it's my frustration at a vanilla life situation
Perhaps it's dealing with old feelings of rejection brought on by the night before He left.
Perhaps it's PMS
Perhaps it's that i just need more sleep
Perhaps it's the person involved
Perhaps it's me! (what? me? pfft! perish the thought!)
i WANT to 'spew' grace - or spread grace or exude grace or share grace"
This whole area is an important one for Me, and I've written on this more than once.
All those possible reasons that this girl listed could very well be factors -- they usually are. I find that most people's orientation is to the right thing, unless other stuff gets in the way. And yeah, that other stuff can be lack of sleep or PMS or not fitting into your jeans or stupid girl stuff or stupid boy stuff or stupid job stuff or (insert any one of 6,594 other things here). It happens to us all.
Grace, in this context, can really be defined as "being less under the influence of 'stuff' than the other person currently is." And being less under the influence of stuff is the result of being able to take that little pause I've
Grace is breathing. Stop. Walk around the block. Twice. Run in place a minute or two. Watch three minutes of Sanford and Son on TV Land. Realize that whatever you're momentarily angry about is much less important than what you're about to give away by giving in to that anger.
Grace is creating that tiny little bit of clear space inside. And almost magically, once opened up, a realization pops into that space. The realization that anger is its own punishment, that the anger and bitterness of the other person diminishes that person, not you. The realization that expressing that anger and bitterness, while it might feel momentarily liberating, is slowly but inexorably imprisoning us in a way of thinking and feeling that is self-limiting and ultimately destructive.
Grace, this sought after, golden thing that differentiates adult from adolescent, Master or Mistress from control freak, submissive from brat, is achieved by the consistent application of the most prosaic, almost silly things. Grace is stopping one pattern and starting another. And once started that pattern is joyfully hard to stop. And gradually one, in this girl's words, spews grace.
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