2008 was...quite a year.
My personal highlights include being interviewed by Forum and, after several years of talking online, I finally got to meet Sievert when business brought him to my neck of the woods. We went out for lunch and it was the most bizarre thing to talk about our fetish through codewords and euphemisms in a public place. I wrote a new story ("The Corset") in a rush of inspiration, which felt good, and I got to announce Airy Tales after working on it behind the scenes for several months, so that felt very good.
I think the lowlight for me was being banned from Bambi's sites for differences of opinion that have already been amply discussed. It was also the year where we saw Bambi accused of horrible things that she didn't do...followed by everybody pointing fingers, which didn't help. Actually, between not having any useful information and not liking how people publicly made baseless accusations, that left me feeling helpless on multiple fronts.
On another down note, I tried to rebuild the Video Vault on YouTube, and got mysteriously shut down (even though other people have posted plenty of clips from my old site and they're fine). I tried to rally behind a friend on TopHeavy, and she was getting great votes...until suddenly her feedback went all negative in a matter of hours. I have my own suspicions on both of those, too, but since I can't prove either theory, I'm just taking the experiences for what they were and moving on.
Then again, we saw some interesting new folks emerge on the scene -- TaylorMadeClips and KinkyKingLatex really made a positive impact on our scene this year with (respectively) new videos and latexwear aimed at inflationists.
For me, the Story Of The Year award goes to "Nozzle" by heliumgirl77, hands down. I'm still impressed with the narrative skill on display there.
In 2009, I hope we have more of that and less drama. More creation; less politics. Less negative competition; more positive communication. I sound like a broken record, but the community is whatever we make it. And next year, as always, I'm determined to keep trying to make it a good thing.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Saturday, December 13, 2008
The Corset: The follow-up
I am only slightly disappointed that my latest story only rated a 6.3 out of 10 at ExpansionStories.com. No, what I am really disappointed about is that out of 400 downloads, only six people rated it at all, and of those six, nobody bothered to explain why they rated it the way they did.
I really do want that kind of feedback. How can I figure out what that number means without a few words to support the score? Was it something that I didn't explain well that I could have done better, or just a matter of "it wasn't a pregnancy story" at a site where there are a lot of those highly rated?
Maybe I was wrong when I said good things about the site being a home for open feedback. Has the system broken down already, and it's just another story archive full of leechers?
I really do want that kind of feedback. How can I figure out what that number means without a few words to support the score? Was it something that I didn't explain well that I could have done better, or just a matter of "it wasn't a pregnancy story" at a site where there are a lot of those highly rated?
Maybe I was wrong when I said good things about the site being a home for open feedback. Has the system broken down already, and it's just another story archive full of leechers?
Monday, December 01, 2008
The Corset - new story
I don't write stories often because I'm not inspired often. I sadly admit that to be inspired, I generally have to be intensely horny, leap on a vaguely novel idea, and then sustain that feeling until I type "the end." It requires a bit more discipline than I'm usually willing to exercise.
So...last night, the planets aligned and through the magic of delayed gratification I suddenly found myself writing a short story. I was somewhat embarassed to find that it was my first in something like three years. Time flies when you're busy doing other crap. It's called "The Corset" and I've posted it at Expansion Stories and DeviantArt, and it will show up at BodyInflation.org in time, too.
Feedback is always welcomed.
So...last night, the planets aligned and through the magic of delayed gratification I suddenly found myself writing a short story. I was somewhat embarassed to find that it was my first in something like three years. Time flies when you're busy doing other crap. It's called "The Corset" and I've posted it at Expansion Stories and DeviantArt, and it will show up at BodyInflation.org in time, too.
Feedback is always welcomed.
Friday, November 28, 2008
The Forum story, downloadable
The folks at Forum UK have decided to be uncommonly awesome and they have granted me permission to post the body inflation article from Forum 42.12 -- so much so that they sent me the files so I didn't even have to scan them. I can only assume it's a promotional effort, so...remember the nice people at the magazine who gave you something for free when they totally didn't have to! They don't make money giving away content for free (there are no ads in this PDF) but hopefully they'll make some friends and fans.
I'm really happy with the article. I mean, all I did was answer questions, but it's a nice, fair overview, with lots of direct quotes from CV & me. Anything people don't understand is therefore our fault! :)
Thanks to our old pal Pixel Prevert for the file prep!
I'm really happy with the article. I mean, all I did was answer questions, but it's a nice, fair overview, with lots of direct quotes from CV & me. Anything people don't understand is therefore our fault! :)
Thanks to our old pal Pixel Prevert for the file prep!
Friday, November 21, 2008
Forum UK is out...with a tease
The issue of Forum (UK) I talked about last month is out -- Volume 42, Number 12, as stated -- and the "little article" on body inflation is significantly more than little. When I did the email interview, I expected it would be a 250-word piece in the "here's a whole bunch of little articles" up-front section that most mags have. Maybe 300 words, tops. A cartoon, pinup, or illustration, with any luck, to drive the point home.What we got was an eight-page feature and a line on the cover. See it there on her ankle?
Holy shit.
Most of the article is from my e-mail interview with the author, but Critical Volume supplied illustrations as well as added his experiences as a member of the community, how he got into it, stuff like that. It's a very non-judgmental piece; it's more "look at this unusual interest" and not the "look at these sicko freaks" approach we sometimes get.
And if you read the article, you'll see a note about an upcoming project I'm working on, and have been for over a year now. It's pretty ambitious (for me, anyway) and involves several people working together. I expect it to go live in early 2009. I'll stop short of announcing it just yet, but the project is going to happen -- and if you buy the magazine, the project's URL is right there on page 61.
Did I mention Volume 42, Number 12 of Forum is currently on sale at fine British smut purveyors everywhere?
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
The risks of creating quietly
In early 2008, someone in the community that I have known for years and respect greatly kinda hurt my feelings. The gist was that he felt I didn't really deserve to call myself part of the inflatable fetish creative community because I didn't really generate enough content.
He had a point. I'd been the curator a video website, and even though I'd captured and edited (and even morphed) some of the clips that appeared there, I'd chosen to pass the site on to someone else several years ago, in part to chase some new ideas. I was involved in Cyndi Irresistible's voice-over projects, but well, even though I instigated that whole thing, I was just the engineer and editor, not the performer or writer. I don't have the Photoshop skills to do photo morphs. I clearly can't draw. And when it comes to writing stories, my output has been very weak, maybe one new tale every two years. And I've worked on a few projects that were never announced or released -- one was a collaboration with LVKane that I still hope to revisit -- but you know, nobody knows you're creating stuff unless you actually release it, so I don't get any credit for those half-done attempts. Ditto for all the private edits I've done for writers looking for direct feedback on their incomplete stories. A good editor is, by nature, invisible, and doesn't get credit for their work.
So, looking at my visible output over the last few years, his point was, maybe I shouldn't offer criticisms to other people who were actually making new inflation content, since I'd clearly stopped making new stuff myself.
What he didn't know -- and what I didn't feel comfortable saying -- was that I was already spearheading a large project that had taken several months of development and would take several months more. But what if the project got derailed? Multiple people with different schedules are involved. I wouldn't want to have talked up a project that was so far away only to have it dissolve and have his accusations basically come true.
But I think we're out of the woods. A website has been purchased, it's now being designed, and the content to go with it is in development. I'm happy to say that I will soon be talking more freely about this mysterious creative project. And maybe I'll earn that creator title after all.
He had a point. I'd been the curator a video website, and even though I'd captured and edited (and even morphed) some of the clips that appeared there, I'd chosen to pass the site on to someone else several years ago, in part to chase some new ideas. I was involved in Cyndi Irresistible's voice-over projects, but well, even though I instigated that whole thing, I was just the engineer and editor, not the performer or writer. I don't have the Photoshop skills to do photo morphs. I clearly can't draw. And when it comes to writing stories, my output has been very weak, maybe one new tale every two years. And I've worked on a few projects that were never announced or released -- one was a collaboration with LVKane that I still hope to revisit -- but you know, nobody knows you're creating stuff unless you actually release it, so I don't get any credit for those half-done attempts. Ditto for all the private edits I've done for writers looking for direct feedback on their incomplete stories. A good editor is, by nature, invisible, and doesn't get credit for their work.
So, looking at my visible output over the last few years, his point was, maybe I shouldn't offer criticisms to other people who were actually making new inflation content, since I'd clearly stopped making new stuff myself.
What he didn't know -- and what I didn't feel comfortable saying -- was that I was already spearheading a large project that had taken several months of development and would take several months more. But what if the project got derailed? Multiple people with different schedules are involved. I wouldn't want to have talked up a project that was so far away only to have it dissolve and have his accusations basically come true.
But I think we're out of the woods. A website has been purchased, it's now being designed, and the content to go with it is in development. I'm happy to say that I will soon be talking more freely about this mysterious creative project. And maybe I'll earn that creator title after all.
The Bambi Investigation
Remember last post when I suggested that Bambi's lack of response was weird, and might be a sign of the economic hardships? Um, wow, was I wrong -- and I've never been so sorry to hear the truth: Someone reported Bambi to the authorities -- falsely -- for child pornography. Bambi explains.
This is not even remotely amusing. I don't know if someone did it as a prank, as revenge, as a way to kill her business...doesn't matter, really. Actually, it matters in that the motive might lead to the culprit. But I think the authorities are already on that.
Every so often the words "inflation fetish" and "child porn" get lumped together, and it's usually because of the Violet scene in Willy Wonka. "Eew, they're into little girls!" they cry. No, you're wrong; we're not into little girls, we're into the expansion and transformation. You're being disgusted by the completely wrong thing. And we've always worked hard to nip that in the bud when people try to make the connection, since it's so wildly off-base.
But Bambi? I mean, look at the videos. There are no kids in there. There are no suggestions of kids in there. There are no mentions of kids in there. There is nothing at all to do with children, childhood, underagers, NOTHING. All of the fantasies are of an adult nature and they have never even flirted with the things they were accused of doing. (The authorities now know this, as Bambi cooperated and was cleared; the investigation into who is wasting the sheriff department's time is now the focus.) It's a claim without any merit whatsoever -- and it horrifies me to think that someone made that baseless allegation, came close to ruining someone's life (thankfully, she's not giving up or giving in), and might actually get away with it. They are currently looking for the anonymous tipster with the spoofed internet phone call who started it all.
It's not fucking funny. If you know who placed the internet tip call, please, come forward and tell them. This isn't the least bit acceptable. This is not what our community is about.
But at the same time, I want to remind everybody that it's not a witch hunt, Please don't throw around more baseless allegations in the form of hunches; only come forward if you have information that can legitimately help. I'm sure they're already up to their eye teeth in "you know who I bet it was" and "I wouldn't put it past this person" stuff, and I'm sure they have a list of suspects. But what they need is the perpetrator.
If you can help, I implore you to do so.
This is not even remotely amusing. I don't know if someone did it as a prank, as revenge, as a way to kill her business...doesn't matter, really. Actually, it matters in that the motive might lead to the culprit. But I think the authorities are already on that.
Every so often the words "inflation fetish" and "child porn" get lumped together, and it's usually because of the Violet scene in Willy Wonka. "Eew, they're into little girls!" they cry. No, you're wrong; we're not into little girls, we're into the expansion and transformation. You're being disgusted by the completely wrong thing. And we've always worked hard to nip that in the bud when people try to make the connection, since it's so wildly off-base.
But Bambi? I mean, look at the videos. There are no kids in there. There are no suggestions of kids in there. There are no mentions of kids in there. There is nothing at all to do with children, childhood, underagers, NOTHING. All of the fantasies are of an adult nature and they have never even flirted with the things they were accused of doing. (The authorities now know this, as Bambi cooperated and was cleared; the investigation into who is wasting the sheriff department's time is now the focus.) It's a claim without any merit whatsoever -- and it horrifies me to think that someone made that baseless allegation, came close to ruining someone's life (thankfully, she's not giving up or giving in), and might actually get away with it. They are currently looking for the anonymous tipster with the spoofed internet phone call who started it all.
It's not fucking funny. If you know who placed the internet tip call, please, come forward and tell them. This isn't the least bit acceptable. This is not what our community is about.
But at the same time, I want to remind everybody that it's not a witch hunt, Please don't throw around more baseless allegations in the form of hunches; only come forward if you have information that can legitimately help. I'm sure they're already up to their eye teeth in "you know who I bet it was" and "I wouldn't put it past this person" stuff, and I'm sure they have a list of suspects. But what they need is the perpetrator.
If you can help, I implore you to do so.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Inflation, recession, and videos
The economic downturn is a matter of public record now. I figure the first thing to go is luxury purchases like custom pornography. I know I've had to adjust my habits and be pretty critical of how much I'm spending on things that aren't rent and gas. I would not be surprised if we see an upswing in bartering between storytellers and artists and whatnot -- the "let's swap cheap thrills" approach has always been popular, way back to the mid-90s when I got involved. But while people can swap text files or JPGs with just personal effort and basic gear, the original video content in our community isn't something that's usually traded that way -- it's traditionally been pay content, and for good reason, with all the production and editing and props and equipment that goes into making that stuff. So I got curious as to whether that relatively new aspect of the community is established enough to make it through, say, a year or more of hard financial times. I visited both of the main purveyors of inflation video to find...very different situations.
Things look pretty healthy at TaylorMadeClips lately. Every two weeks or so there's been at least one new inflation clip, and usually more than one. They've got a belly prop now and they're using it often; it's not quite as slick as Bambi's gear -- you can see wrinkles in the belly prop in the early inflation stages, so it must be built differently -- but it's a pretty big jump from where Taylor was even a few months ago in regards to inflation vids. The close-up camera work is still a good trick, I think, and it helps sell the scenarios. I hope to see less food-oriented vids (and more logic -- why are Doritos a source of inflation?); I still don't like the mixing of weight gain with inflation. I know some folks don't have a problem with that, and there was certainly imagery and phrasing in those clips (like "Bunny Will Not Burst" and "Roly Poly Irresistible") that made me happy as an inflation fan. I still haven't seen the scene of my dreams from Taylor but I'm not sure what that clip would or should be, so I can't complain. As has been stated many times, they're open to ideas, so maybe I should get off my ass and offer some. But at least they're still in business and showing healthy signs.
Meanwhile, Bambi Blaze's network of sites have been quiet to the point of being worrisome. The clips have been infrequent (one BE clip and one belly clip in two months' time -- and since they appeared on different sites, that means there was an entire billed month with no content in each arena) and worse, no information is coming out as to the source of the delay or an ETA on new content. It's starting to get a little heated in the forums at bambiblazebelly.com. I was asked not to link to her sites so I will respect that, but you can find it yourself if you are curious -- it's the thread called "Goin on a month now...." I hope the economic downturn isn't to blame -- she'd just set up a new studio, which had to be an expense, so I wonder if that turned out to be bad timing. Maybe it's time to consolidate all the subscriptions into one site. No real insight here, as very little has been said. I hope it gets resolved soon. The good news is that there are new props in her videos -- a butt/thigh apparatus that makes for some killer hourglass shapes in the previews -- and that could spark some fun new creative stories. I don't think the slowdown is intentional; I'm betting it's some unfortunate circumstance. One forum post suggests that it may be a computer problem combined with a move into a new house. Certainly plausible, but still -- why not call someone and ask them to post on your behalf? Seems like the customer base just wants to be updated.
[EDIT: Good news. Bambi released a new video on the belly site on November 12. There still wasn't any posting to suggest what the delay was or if anything is wrong. With any luck there isn't, and I hope it's one of many regular releases in the works. But the lack of communication is still weird.]
Meanwhile, I do encourage people to keep circulating new content; if you make or write something original and release it, that can in turn inspire someone else to do the same thing, and the free cycle of smut continues on. I spotted several new stories at BodyInflation.org this weekend, which made me happy. I haven't taken my own advice, mind you, so I have no new stories to share, but I conveniently have excuses. I have been stupid busy with work and a second job, but I've got something unusual in the queue that will hopefully see the light of day next year.
Things look pretty healthy at TaylorMadeClips lately. Every two weeks or so there's been at least one new inflation clip, and usually more than one. They've got a belly prop now and they're using it often; it's not quite as slick as Bambi's gear -- you can see wrinkles in the belly prop in the early inflation stages, so it must be built differently -- but it's a pretty big jump from where Taylor was even a few months ago in regards to inflation vids. The close-up camera work is still a good trick, I think, and it helps sell the scenarios. I hope to see less food-oriented vids (and more logic -- why are Doritos a source of inflation?); I still don't like the mixing of weight gain with inflation. I know some folks don't have a problem with that, and there was certainly imagery and phrasing in those clips (like "Bunny Will Not Burst" and "Roly Poly Irresistible") that made me happy as an inflation fan. I still haven't seen the scene of my dreams from Taylor but I'm not sure what that clip would or should be, so I can't complain. As has been stated many times, they're open to ideas, so maybe I should get off my ass and offer some. But at least they're still in business and showing healthy signs.
Meanwhile, Bambi Blaze's network of sites have been quiet to the point of being worrisome. The clips have been infrequent (one BE clip and one belly clip in two months' time -- and since they appeared on different sites, that means there was an entire billed month with no content in each arena) and worse, no information is coming out as to the source of the delay or an ETA on new content. It's starting to get a little heated in the forums at bambiblazebelly.com. I was asked not to link to her sites so I will respect that, but you can find it yourself if you are curious -- it's the thread called "Goin on a month now...." I hope the economic downturn isn't to blame -- she'd just set up a new studio, which had to be an expense, so I wonder if that turned out to be bad timing. Maybe it's time to consolidate all the subscriptions into one site. No real insight here, as very little has been said. I hope it gets resolved soon. The good news is that there are new props in her videos -- a butt/thigh apparatus that makes for some killer hourglass shapes in the previews -- and that could spark some fun new creative stories. I don't think the slowdown is intentional; I'm betting it's some unfortunate circumstance. One forum post suggests that it may be a computer problem combined with a move into a new house. Certainly plausible, but still -- why not call someone and ask them to post on your behalf? Seems like the customer base just wants to be updated.
[EDIT: Good news. Bambi released a new video on the belly site on November 12. There still wasn't any posting to suggest what the delay was or if anything is wrong. With any luck there isn't, and I hope it's one of many regular releases in the works. But the lack of communication is still weird.]
Meanwhile, I do encourage people to keep circulating new content; if you make or write something original and release it, that can in turn inspire someone else to do the same thing, and the free cycle of smut continues on. I spotted several new stories at BodyInflation.org this weekend, which made me happy. I haven't taken my own advice, mind you, so I have no new stories to share, but I conveniently have excuses. I have been stupid busy with work and a second job, but I've got something unusual in the queue that will hopefully see the light of day next year.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Inflation in Forum UK
Notice to UK folks: Keep your eyes peeled for the next issue of the jolly ol' edition of Forum (as in Penthouse). There's an article in there about inflatable fetishism. Seek issue 42.12 when it comes out, and I believe I'm quoted in it from an interview I did recently. I'm trying to figure out what the cover will look like, but the article won't be in the US edition, so -- those of you with access to British smut, report in!
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Inflation Holiday 2008 - today!
It's here! The Expansion Holiday is this weekend, and there's a lot of content that's already been posted. You don't have to contribute to enjoy it, but you also shouldn't feel like you can't contribute if you missed it. I wasn't able to do much; I just re-released an older work that's been offline for a while, but hey, it was something. Happy holidays...
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Helia's latest blog
It's here, if you'd like to check it out. I suggested she might have been gone but she's just been lurking. Yay.
Monday, August 25, 2008
The Inflation Holiday
When I suggested an inflation fetish holiday three years ago, some said I was crazy. Well, actually, some said it was a waste of time and nobody seemed to have much interest in the thing once we actually discussed it.
But someone picked up the ball and ran with it, or had the same idea not long after, or whatever. And they finalized a date. Countdown to September 19.
Fuck, I'll celebrate it.
UPDATE: A reminder that this is coming up next weekend. If you can contribute to the merriment by releasing a new story or piece of artwork or merely offering words of encouragement to the creators you appreciate in your community...do so!
But someone picked up the ball and ran with it, or had the same idea not long after, or whatever. And they finalized a date. Countdown to September 19.
Fuck, I'll celebrate it.
UPDATE: A reminder that this is coming up next weekend. If you can contribute to the merriment by releasing a new story or piece of artwork or merely offering words of encouragement to the creators you appreciate in your community...do so!
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
heliumgirl77's "Nozzle"
I read Nozzle last night and it blew my mind. I woke up thinking about it today, which rarely happens. I think it's the best inflatable story I've read all year.
It starts out with a setup that doesn't need to overexplain itself; the "huh?" factor is part of the appeal and keeps it fresh (if not waving to Kafka from across the room). The author used first-person brilliantly and the word choice throughout was extremely vibrant; I was there with our heroine in the scene. Even the "mundane" elements of the scene are lovingly described. heliumgirl77's stuff is very subtle and lyrical -- clearly erotic by design, but never vulgar. It's all very beautiful and human, yet totally fantastic. The scenes unspool with perfect pacing.
I'm having a hard time explaining because it's not often that a story hits so many positive points at once. It's not that it pushed personal fetish buttons or anything, it's not like she wrote "my" story -- it's just incredibly finely crafted as fiction. This is a brilliantly WRITTEN story.
Combine this with the early Remnants and we're seeing a legitimate style emerge. Good lord, I think we've gone beyond inflatable stories and we're inching toward inflatable literature.
It starts out with a setup that doesn't need to overexplain itself; the "huh?" factor is part of the appeal and keeps it fresh (if not waving to Kafka from across the room). The author used first-person brilliantly and the word choice throughout was extremely vibrant; I was there with our heroine in the scene. Even the "mundane" elements of the scene are lovingly described. heliumgirl77's stuff is very subtle and lyrical -- clearly erotic by design, but never vulgar. It's all very beautiful and human, yet totally fantastic. The scenes unspool with perfect pacing.
I'm having a hard time explaining because it's not often that a story hits so many positive points at once. It's not that it pushed personal fetish buttons or anything, it's not like she wrote "my" story -- it's just incredibly finely crafted as fiction. This is a brilliantly WRITTEN story.
Combine this with the early Remnants and we're seeing a legitimate style emerge. Good lord, I think we've gone beyond inflatable stories and we're inching toward inflatable literature.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Some thoughts on the community
This month marks my 14th year in the inflation community. I'm proud of that. And now I will probably ramble.
The best thing about the community is that nobody owns it. I know I've told the story about how I set up the first inflatable fetish mailing list on AOL for a whopping 12 people; even that, I don't really get too much credit for, because, well, how about those other 11 people? It was my list but it was never more "my" community than it was anyone else's. That's kind of the point of a community -- it's a group thing.
Voices and sites have come and gone. I've met some spectacular artists and writers and thinkers; some have stuck around, some have passed through. I've got evidence of most of them on my hard drive in one form or another. I remember when it was all about ACotto's FTP site. Then the BE Archive appeared and -- gasp! -- charged money. Soon it was all about WrenSpot. For a time, my Video Vault was a happenin' place. And ultimately, LVKane set up BodyInflation.org. There are others, too -- whatever happened to DanielSan and the IC/B2E? Where did Ylandra and Champagne Moon go? And why can't Helia come back for good? Ah, well, There's always tomorrow -- anybody could resurface at any time.
The point is, people come and go, variations on our common themes take new forms from time to time, projects appear and disappear...but the community remains. That's because the idea remains. That's more powerful than anything -- and the idea that we're all into the same weird idea is even larger. We're not alone because, at the very least, we have each other. That's kinda sacred to me.
Nobody owns us. Nobody runs us. And while I sometimes sound protective, I don't mean to claim ownership; nobody can actually take credit for the community. In fact, the only time I really get angry is when I see people trying to suggest that the community cannot exist without them, or they are indispensably important to it and/or primarily responsible in some way for it. Sometimes it's just immature outbursts from people looking to belong; other times, I think people really believe it's true, or at least want to make it appear true for egotistical reasons. No; you're nothing without everybody else. We're all shareholders in your stock in the community. Get in here in the soup with the rest of us.
See? I told you I'd ramble. Anyway, here's to 14 years.
The best thing about the community is that nobody owns it. I know I've told the story about how I set up the first inflatable fetish mailing list on AOL for a whopping 12 people; even that, I don't really get too much credit for, because, well, how about those other 11 people? It was my list but it was never more "my" community than it was anyone else's. That's kind of the point of a community -- it's a group thing.
Voices and sites have come and gone. I've met some spectacular artists and writers and thinkers; some have stuck around, some have passed through. I've got evidence of most of them on my hard drive in one form or another. I remember when it was all about ACotto's FTP site. Then the BE Archive appeared and -- gasp! -- charged money. Soon it was all about WrenSpot. For a time, my Video Vault was a happenin' place. And ultimately, LVKane set up BodyInflation.org. There are others, too -- whatever happened to DanielSan and the IC/B2E? Where did Ylandra and Champagne Moon go? And why can't Helia come back for good? Ah, well, There's always tomorrow -- anybody could resurface at any time.
The point is, people come and go, variations on our common themes take new forms from time to time, projects appear and disappear...but the community remains. That's because the idea remains. That's more powerful than anything -- and the idea that we're all into the same weird idea is even larger. We're not alone because, at the very least, we have each other. That's kinda sacred to me.
Nobody owns us. Nobody runs us. And while I sometimes sound protective, I don't mean to claim ownership; nobody can actually take credit for the community. In fact, the only time I really get angry is when I see people trying to suggest that the community cannot exist without them, or they are indispensably important to it and/or primarily responsible in some way for it. Sometimes it's just immature outbursts from people looking to belong; other times, I think people really believe it's true, or at least want to make it appear true for egotistical reasons. No; you're nothing without everybody else. We're all shareholders in your stock in the community. Get in here in the soup with the rest of us.
See? I told you I'd ramble. Anyway, here's to 14 years.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Inflation stories as Wordles
Here's an interesting idea that my wife suggested. First, go to this site:
http://wordle.net/create
She said, "You've got to put some of your inflatable stories into this thing and see what happens." So I did -- I cut and pasted stories from my collection.
I ran a few of my stories through it and found, if nothing else, that I repeat certain words too much -- like "said." I should work on more creative attribution of dialogue! Main character names come up a lot too. It's actually a pretty analysis of your story after you've written it, to show you what and how you wrote from a completely different perspective.
It's funny, because stories with a greater vocabulary will not come up with the most titillating layouts -- the stories with less change in language will arguably make more exciting Wordles. I expected lots of "balloon" and "swelling" and stuff like that, but it turns out those words are the money shots in stories and generally aren't overused.
Try choosing "Maximum Words" under Layout and changing it to 75 or 50 words for a few stories; it gives the main words more impact.
By far my best story as a Wordle was Eating Light, which was my first and worst story.
Try it with your favorite stories and post your results.
http://wordle.net/create
She said, "You've got to put some of your inflatable stories into this thing and see what happens." So I did -- I cut and pasted stories from my collection.
I ran a few of my stories through it and found, if nothing else, that I repeat certain words too much -- like "said." I should work on more creative attribution of dialogue! Main character names come up a lot too. It's actually a pretty analysis of your story after you've written it, to show you what and how you wrote from a completely different perspective.
It's funny, because stories with a greater vocabulary will not come up with the most titillating layouts -- the stories with less change in language will arguably make more exciting Wordles. I expected lots of "balloon" and "swelling" and stuff like that, but it turns out those words are the money shots in stories and generally aren't overused.
Try choosing "Maximum Words" under Layout and changing it to 75 or 50 words for a few stories; it gives the main words more impact.
By far my best story as a Wordle was Eating Light, which was my first and worst story.
Try it with your favorite stories and post your results.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
ExpansionStories.com - a positive example
It should be no surprise to hear that I think constructive criticism is the key to, well, just about everything. I try to live it every day in my real-life job as an entertainment critic. Bitching about problems you find in a creative work doesn't help, but identifying and deconstructing those problems in an organized and positive manner truly does offer insight to the creator. The spirit of the criticism has to be true; it's worthless if it's "I hate you so I hate your work." I want to see more people willing to give well-considered feedback to creators who are equally willing to accept it as the positive force it should be.
That's why I'm stoked to see this happening over at ExpansionStories.com. You have to register to download and comment on stories, but I've noticed that the comments are moving beyond the expected "do a part 2" stuff and are starting to address when things went right and how they went wrong in each story. I'm not sure what's fostering this environment but I'm thrilled to see it evolving naturally and I hope it never stops.
Most if not all of my crap is posted on the site, and I still check the comments on my stories there. (Do an author search if that link doesn't take you to a list of my stories.) By all means, chime in with your considered thoughts and keep the good vibes going.
That's why I'm stoked to see this happening over at ExpansionStories.com. You have to register to download and comment on stories, but I've noticed that the comments are moving beyond the expected "do a part 2" stuff and are starting to address when things went right and how they went wrong in each story. I'm not sure what's fostering this environment but I'm thrilled to see it evolving naturally and I hope it never stops.
Most if not all of my crap is posted on the site, and I still check the comments on my stories there. (Do an author search if that link doesn't take you to a list of my stories.) By all means, chime in with your considered thoughts and keep the good vibes going.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Vixen: The Tampering
Well, that was interesting. I've been keeping track of the numbers on Vixen's TopHeavy submission every few days and the voting was pretty good -- it was about a 2.5 to 1 ratio in favor of Vixen. Then magically, this weekend, the photos got nothing but No votes. Like, 400 in the span of half a day, all to No.
Vixen was doing it partly just to see what would happen -- she's been wondering that classic "am I hot or not" question and has been thinking about plus-size modeling -- and for two weeks the numbers moved naturally and organically, a few yes, a few no. This latest shift is clearly not natural; it reeks of an organized movement. I wonder why. Who would feel threatened enough to actually rally against four photographs? Strange.
But it was encouraging while the feedback remained honest, and it kind of served its purpose. So thanks to anybody who liked what they saw and said so.
By the way, did you see Kymera there? Wow! Get that girl a hose with which to pose...
Vixen was doing it partly just to see what would happen -- she's been wondering that classic "am I hot or not" question and has been thinking about plus-size modeling -- and for two weeks the numbers moved naturally and organically, a few yes, a few no. This latest shift is clearly not natural; it reeks of an organized movement. I wonder why. Who would feel threatened enough to actually rally against four photographs? Strange.
But it was encouraging while the feedback remained honest, and it kind of served its purpose. So thanks to anybody who liked what they saw and said so.
By the way, did you see Kymera there? Wow! Get that girl a hose with which to pose...
Friday, June 13, 2008
YouTube go boom
Just logged into YouTube to find my account has been disabled. That's a drag -- maybe the stuff I was uploading to the Video Vault was deemed too adult. I had a few clips rejected due to copyright, but most of them were original videos. All Ylandra's stuff...I was really glad to have that, and I intentionally put it up first because I was always a big fan.
I can always create a second account, and I probably will. But it's not my main focus right now, so I figure, this is a sign. I've got my fingers in several projects at the moment, both pervy and non, and I've been wondering if I was spreading myself too thin. Even trying to throw a few clips onto YouTube every weekend was a time commitment. So I'll focus my energies on one less project. For now, anyway -- I would like to bring those clips back online.
However...if you were going to play the conspiracy game...I know that Taylor's video clips were all yanked from the service too, about a week before my entire account was suspended. So this is either a system-wide crackdown on adult material...or something nefarious.
Frankly? I'm not ruling anything out.
I can always create a second account, and I probably will. But it's not my main focus right now, so I figure, this is a sign. I've got my fingers in several projects at the moment, both pervy and non, and I've been wondering if I was spreading myself too thin. Even trying to throw a few clips onto YouTube every weekend was a time commitment. So I'll focus my energies on one less project. For now, anyway -- I would like to bring those clips back online.
However...if you were going to play the conspiracy game...I know that Taylor's video clips were all yanked from the service too, about a week before my entire account was suspended. So this is either a system-wide crackdown on adult material...or something nefarious.
Frankly? I'm not ruling anything out.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Vote for Vixen!
A friend has been put up as a potential model over at TopHeavy.com. Top Heavy is a site full of photos of clothed women with big boobs -- lots of cleavage, quite a bit of swimwear, nothing nude, but always tight 'n exciting. At least, it is to those of us who like the concept of clothing leaving something to the imagination.
In any case...if anybody else here digs that stuff too, I'm calling for a little vote help. Top Heavy has only recently reinstated user submissions for new models and you can vote without registering or anything. Just click Yes or No based on who you see. There are some other...interesting choices as well that you will likely want to check out if you like busty gals.
The page is here and the model in question is Vixen (the one with no face -- she's stacked but she's shy). Thanks.
In any case...if anybody else here digs that stuff too, I'm calling for a little vote help. Top Heavy has only recently reinstated user submissions for new models and you can vote without registering or anything. Just click Yes or No based on who you see. There are some other...interesting choices as well that you will likely want to check out if you like busty gals.
The page is here and the model in question is Vixen (the one with no face -- she's stacked but she's shy). Thanks.
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
In my element
I hear that phrase a lot. "At work, I'm really in my element." "I'm really in my element when I'm on the soccer pitch." Well, I realized...I actually am in my element most of the time.
I live in California, not far from water, and in an exceedingly windy area. I'm talking 25 miles per hour most days, and when it gets stronger, the windows in my office creak. My front door has burst open thanks to 50 mph gusts, and it's just the natural state of my neighborhood. The hills and the water and everything sort of combine to create an atmosphere where the air calls the shots.
And while I see friends and coworkers complain about the high winds, I love them. I just totally feel like, yeah, world. Behold the power of air. I find the intense winds extremely relaxing. I like walking to the car in the late afternoon when the air currents get more intense.
Because I'm in my element.
I live in California, not far from water, and in an exceedingly windy area. I'm talking 25 miles per hour most days, and when it gets stronger, the windows in my office creak. My front door has burst open thanks to 50 mph gusts, and it's just the natural state of my neighborhood. The hills and the water and everything sort of combine to create an atmosphere where the air calls the shots.
And while I see friends and coworkers complain about the high winds, I love them. I just totally feel like, yeah, world. Behold the power of air. I find the intense winds extremely relaxing. I like walking to the car in the late afternoon when the air currents get more intense.
Because I'm in my element.
Monday, June 02, 2008
I met Sievert
If you felt a small tremor in the earth this weekend, it was the momentous face-to-face meeting of Sievert and Inflate123. Sievert was one of the first people in the community I met -- actually, his was the first Usenet post I read and that gave me hope that there was someone else out there who felt the way I did. He was asking about a video he'd seen featuring a corset with inflatable cups and hips that also got rigid as it inflated. I'm still fascinated by this concept and want to see such a garment made. I wrote to him immediately and didn't get an answer for several months -- he was in college and it was his school account. For me, it was a long three months.
Over the years we got to know each other very well...but never actually met. We talked about it, we found ourselves traveling in similar areas of the country here and there, but never actually made it. He was in my neck of the woods about six months ago and a disastrous work schedule prevented me from seeing him throughout the entire week that he was in my zip code. It sucked.
He gave me a month's heads-up this time and, sure enough, my schedule sucked again. Three days away for a business trip, followed by another event three hours away the day after I returned, followed by an intense deadline push at the office. But in that slim window between those events -- literally about five hours -- I realized we could meet for lunch.
So you can imagine how pissed off I was that he showed up two hours late!
But what's two hours when it has taken you 14 years to get that far? In real life, Sievert is as he seems to be online -- polite, quiet, intelligent. We had a nice lunch that was, for me anyway, surprisingly frank. It felt kind of exciting to be talking about and around taboo topics in public; I rarely articulate any of my fetish verbally. It's always in an email or a forum post or a blog -- I say a lot but I never talk. So it was a little surreal to discuss inflatable fetishism in a crowded restaurant. Nobody cared what we were talking about. My wife just rolled her eyes as we went over inflatable community names, events, and history like two old war buddies.
I had intended to get a photo of the two of us together, then post it here...with our eyes covered with black bars, to protect the guilty. After all, the internet is not a crowded restaurant. But we had to cut ti short and I forgot. Maybe in another 14 years.
Over the years we got to know each other very well...but never actually met. We talked about it, we found ourselves traveling in similar areas of the country here and there, but never actually made it. He was in my neck of the woods about six months ago and a disastrous work schedule prevented me from seeing him throughout the entire week that he was in my zip code. It sucked.
He gave me a month's heads-up this time and, sure enough, my schedule sucked again. Three days away for a business trip, followed by another event three hours away the day after I returned, followed by an intense deadline push at the office. But in that slim window between those events -- literally about five hours -- I realized we could meet for lunch.
So you can imagine how pissed off I was that he showed up two hours late!
But what's two hours when it has taken you 14 years to get that far? In real life, Sievert is as he seems to be online -- polite, quiet, intelligent. We had a nice lunch that was, for me anyway, surprisingly frank. It felt kind of exciting to be talking about and around taboo topics in public; I rarely articulate any of my fetish verbally. It's always in an email or a forum post or a blog -- I say a lot but I never talk. So it was a little surreal to discuss inflatable fetishism in a crowded restaurant. Nobody cared what we were talking about. My wife just rolled her eyes as we went over inflatable community names, events, and history like two old war buddies.
I had intended to get a photo of the two of us together, then post it here...with our eyes covered with black bars, to protect the guilty. After all, the internet is not a crowded restaurant. But we had to cut ti short and I forgot. Maybe in another 14 years.
Sunday, June 01, 2008
Tattoo?
I've considered getting a small, non-flashy tattoo for several years now. (I generally follow pop culture trends about 10 years late...) The permanence is the biggie: What am I willing to get on my skin that I will want to live with forever? What defines me? What will I find funny or empowering 10 years from now?
If I get one, I'm getting it for me. I don't necessarily need it or want it in a public place. So that made me realize...you know, this inflation thing, it's not going away, and it does help define me, to me.
I haven't been able to figure out what to get. I don't want balloons; I don't want Jessica Rabbit (while it's true that she's not bad, sometimes she is just drawn that way...forever). I don't want anything vulgar either, and I don't really want a bike pump or an air compressor.
I have considered a simple perspective line drawing of a valve -- like the one you'd find on a beach ball or vinyl inflatable. I've also thought of just having a PSI rating, in text. Simple, secret, cheap.
Any suggestions?
If I get one, I'm getting it for me. I don't necessarily need it or want it in a public place. So that made me realize...you know, this inflation thing, it's not going away, and it does help define me, to me.
I haven't been able to figure out what to get. I don't want balloons; I don't want Jessica Rabbit (while it's true that she's not bad, sometimes she is just drawn that way...forever). I don't want anything vulgar either, and I don't really want a bike pump or an air compressor.
I have considered a simple perspective line drawing of a valve -- like the one you'd find on a beach ball or vinyl inflatable. I've also thought of just having a PSI rating, in text. Simple, secret, cheap.
Any suggestions?
Helia: She's back again
Yay, a new blog, since she apparently no longer had access to the old one. My link on the right has been updated.
Any update from Helia is a good update in my book.
Any update from Helia is a good update in my book.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Big things for Bambi
Here's some cool news. Looks like Bambi's going beyond just physical special effects and is moving into digital special effects as well. According to matching posts at DeviantArt and BEArchive:
Sounds like a major upgrade. Digital effects are a totally different realm but the technology is much closer to consumers than it ever was before. I have a little experience in it (and a few friends with lots of it) so I've always sort of kept a geeky interest. Seems like a natural evolution of the fetish, though -- if we've got homemade movies, why not homemade special effects movies?
At the same time, look at both Wonka films -- the first Violet scene was all physical effects and the second was all digital. Fans liked the first, but a deft blending of both techniques? That could pay dividends.
Please bear with me for just a bit for this new vid production because we're in the process of moving into our new studio and manufacturing complex! The studio facility will contain multiple sets and a dedicated green screen set which will allow us to greatly expand our special effects capabilities so that we can produce more diversified inflation & expansion content. And...our new prop manufacturing and R&D center will significantly improve prop design and production. This has been a year long undertaking that was temporarily delayed due to my surgeries and illnesses occurring in 2007.
Sounds like a major upgrade. Digital effects are a totally different realm but the technology is much closer to consumers than it ever was before. I have a little experience in it (and a few friends with lots of it) so I've always sort of kept a geeky interest. Seems like a natural evolution of the fetish, though -- if we've got homemade movies, why not homemade special effects movies?
At the same time, look at both Wonka films -- the first Violet scene was all physical effects and the second was all digital. Fans liked the first, but a deft blending of both techniques? That could pay dividends.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Inflatable BE from China
Props to The Process forum for turning up this one from a film called Millionaire Cop. Give it time to load -- China's answer to YouTube is halfway around the world. The BE scene resolves at around the four-minute mark.
Some things, like glasses being visual moviemaking shorthand for characters who are nerdy and uptight, are apparently universal. As for the rest, your guess is as good as mine.
Some things, like glasses being visual moviemaking shorthand for characters who are nerdy and uptight, are apparently universal. As for the rest, your guess is as good as mine.
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Working on something
Had an idea, kicked it around with an old friend, and we gave it a mutual green light. We've already bought the most important part.
Should be fun. No ETA, though. But lest anyone think I'm no longer creating stuff...I am.
Should be fun. No ETA, though. But lest anyone think I'm no longer creating stuff...I am.
Saturday, May 03, 2008
History of BE
Amazingly, someone wrote down a brief history of how the BE/inflation community got its start. The first stories I read were written by Dr. Enlarge; the first two people I met were Buster (who now runs BalloonBuddies.com) and Sievert (who retains a quiet dignity). I think we might actually meet face to face soon, after all these years. I have only done that with a handful of people in the community, by choice -- I met Dr. Enlarge, and I met Lucky and didn't realize I was meeting him at the time! -- but I've always wanted to meet Sievert, the one person who always felt like my brother from another mother. I'm a bit nervous.
I have always wondered what happened to ACotto; did he get bored? Did he get scared? Did he pass away? His creation of a common file archive really did establish the foundation and we really owe him a debt of gratitude.
I have always wondered what happened to ACotto; did he get bored? Did he get scared? Did he pass away? His creation of a common file archive really did establish the foundation and we really owe him a debt of gratitude.
Friday, May 02, 2008
New content: Taylor, Big Horse
Taylor has put up a new expansion clip called Age of Expansion. It's $12. It's worth it, I think. Keep in mind that I like the clothed stuff, so this scratches my itch. I also enjoyed the light tone and sense of humor going on -- doing both sexy and funny at the same time is often tricky, but I think they pulled it off. The actresses are pretty good at improv and running with the ad-libs. Also, by the end, you can tell they're having a lot of silly fun. While I was happy to see a new face on the scene, the first few clips they released didn't grab me but it looked like they were ramping up. I'm hoping this is the first of a second wave.
Also, now that I unexpectedly have a little more money in my pocket, I've commissioned a few clips from Big Horse on my favorite topics -- inflation, hourglass shapes, redheads -- and he delivered two cool images for the money. With his permission, I'm sharing them with everybody. I don't know what they're really called but I have been referring to them as "The Witch and the Hourglass" and "Boob Tube."
I will upload both images to the gallery at bodyinflation.org too, where many of Big Horse's pieces currently live. Enjoy!
Also, now that I unexpectedly have a little more money in my pocket, I've commissioned a few clips from Big Horse on my favorite topics -- inflation, hourglass shapes, redheads -- and he delivered two cool images for the money. With his permission, I'm sharing them with everybody. I don't know what they're really called but I have been referring to them as "The Witch and the Hourglass" and "Boob Tube."
I will upload both images to the gallery at bodyinflation.org too, where many of Big Horse's pieces currently live. Enjoy!
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Inflate123's Video Vault on YouTube
After years of scavenging for hosting space and relying on the kindness of strangers, I gave up hosting my Video Vault in early 2004. But a lot has changed with the internet and video since then, and I'd like to bring the archive back and make it available to everyone easily.
So, I am rebuilding my original Video Vault on YouTube. You can find it right here.
I should have done this a long time ago, because now that I am, it seems easier and quicker than I thought. I have all the clips backed up to CD, so I'm just restoring from those, for better or worse (some of them are noticably low-res). And some of the clips that I used to offer on my older site have already appeared here so I will try to focus on the stuff that isn't already represented.
Tell your friends. Hopefully we won't get hit with a lot of copyright violations and the collection will only grow. Hopefully you'll see some old favorites as well as new ones!
So, I am rebuilding my original Video Vault on YouTube. You can find it right here.
I should have done this a long time ago, because now that I am, it seems easier and quicker than I thought. I have all the clips backed up to CD, so I'm just restoring from those, for better or worse (some of them are noticably low-res). And some of the clips that I used to offer on my older site have already appeared here so I will try to focus on the stuff that isn't already represented.
Tell your friends. Hopefully we won't get hit with a lot of copyright violations and the collection will only grow. Hopefully you'll see some old favorites as well as new ones!
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Give me an H! And anoither H!
I just got a verbal agreement from my wife that she's going to buy this top with matching shorts:
My wife, you may recall, is a 38HH. I'm having trouble concentrating today, just from the potential of what this will look like when it's finally delivered.
I don't know what I did right but I'm going to keep on doing it.
My wife, you may recall, is a 38HH. I'm having trouble concentrating today, just from the potential of what this will look like when it's finally delivered.
I don't know what I did right but I'm going to keep on doing it.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Monday, April 14, 2008
Banned by Bambi!
Wow. Nothing like a good e-drama to get your blood pumping.
This weekend I got an email informing me that my subscription to Bambi Blaze's sites had been canceled. I contacted the billing company and they said I should talk to the webmaster. I went to the websites and couldn't get into some of them, but found a message on ExpansionMansion's forum login page:
"Sorry Inflate123, you are banned from using this forum!
The user Inflate123 has been banned for linking from M & L Productions websites to his blog where he spreads disinformation & negative propaganda regarding M & L Productions in an effort to promote his own agenda."
My initial reaction was disbelief -- there was some server maintenance going on this weekend, so maybe something got mixed up. And maybe my credit card ran out -- we've been consolidating our cards and bringing down our debt, so maybe I forgot and canceled the card that was on the Bambi subscriptions.
Um, nope. I've been banned for the reason stated above. And I don't really know what it means.
Well, I do now, or I think I know now. I started looking at what I have done or said that would have been taken as "disinformation" and "propaganda" and I found it -- it was what I call "opinion" and "constructive criticism." I wrote this blog entry six weeks ago, offering my take on the state of Bambi's videos and the appearance of a new actress on the scene who might give her some healthy competition, and therefore give the community more and better options. This isn't even the first time I've suggested that Bambi could improve -- I did it in an earlier blog post, too.
Surely they wouldn't find my opinions so offensive that they'd just close my accounts and ban me from the forums? There had to be more to it. And since I didn't get any direct communication from Bambi's crew, I kept thinking, and I think I figured it out.
I created a decent-sized library of original inflation sound effects while working with Cyndi Irresistible. After Cyndi's vocals were done, I went looking for sounds and didn't find ones I liked, so I set up a microphone and grabbed some pumps and balloons and pieces of rubber and made my own, to better suit the stories. It's not much but I've always been very proud that I was able to get the sounds I wanted, so I've been kind of protective of the library. I planned to share some of it on the Yahoo group dedicated to this niche topic but I ultimately never undertook the Herculean task of uploading 700MB of audio files individually and didn't want to get trapped into the "that's great but can you make one like this" thing that often happens.
When Taylor posted on bodyinflation.org looking for input from the potential audience, I chimed in and even offered use of my sounds. (Bambi's videos traditionally use "wild sound" -- the hissing and the stretching sounds of the actual costume props, which is one aspect I like -- and not post-production effects...though I notice that the most recent one I saw -- "Enchanted Garden," released March 31 -- was specifically promoted as having custom sound effects.) Taylor's team said yes to my sounds and offered me some of her existing work for as a license fee. In essence, "We'll take your sounds, you take some videos." Sounds good to me.
Here's what I'm guessing caused the problem. Taylor's producer asked if it was okay if he gave me an on-screen credit for use of my sounds. I said sure -- I own the copyright on those files and there were no legal problems surrounding their use. Why not? I put effort into them and with Cyndi currently on extended hiatus, I was glad to see them used again. A credit was a nice gesture, especially considering I'd already been compensated with porn. You can see the evidence here.
I think the combination of the blog post six weeks ago -- one nobody even commented on in that time, so I didn't think it was particularly influential -- with my name appearing in "the competition's" video made the Bambi camp think I'd chosen sides. Since I linked to my blog from her forums and my blog contained something a mix of praise and negative feedback, and the blog talked about Taylor, and my name then showed up in a Taylor video...that I must be using Bambi's forums to spread -- what was it? -- "disinformation & negative propaganda regarding M & L Productions in an effort to promote his own agenda."
Okay, then. Time to come clean: My compensation for letting Taylor's team use my sound effects library (I simply FTPed my recordings and that's where my involvement ended -- I didn't record anything new and I didn't help with the video's production at all) was about $25 or $30 worth of complimentary Taylor video downloads and a thank-you line in the opening credits of one of them. I guess I'm a cheap date -- it's not like I'm seeing profit sharing or something. It was a content-for-content swap, which is kind of how this whole community started.
By contrast, I was paying $28 a month to see Bambi's stuff (a total of $600 to date), which, um, I'm apparently not paying any more. I have no problem with money-for-content swaps, mind you, and I do remember thinking about writing a script for Bambi, and maybe even bringing that up with Bambi, but even if I did articulate it, I never actually got around to doing it. I think it's the false assumption that I'm "working for the competition" that caused the problem. But I'm not really "working for" either side -- I'm just a customer. I suppose it's a little telling someone they can't buy Coke any more because you spotted them drinking a Pepsi.
So, that's that -- the long version, so I never have to tell it again. I haven't heard directly from Bambi's camp; I wrote to Dr. Curvy but I haven't heard a reply yet, so this is all conjecture until (if?) I get a response. But what's done is quite obviously done and the choice has been made for me.
I'm going forward with the following stuff in my head:
1) A business has the right to refuse service to anyone, and I really do support that. If they wanna kick me out, that's their right. I am not going to fight it because I am not actually entitled to anything. The internet is not actually a democracy, even though we all like to think it's at least a meritocracy. The people who pay the server bills do make the rules, and that's not an injustice.
2) I'd sent in direct feedback to Bambi on her videos last year, with ideas and suggestions for improvement for some of the same deficiencies I called out in my blog post. I didn't get that same courtesy here, and I wish I had -- if I could have explained what I just explained here, it probably would have worked out fine. By not knowing there was a problem, I wasn't given the opportunity to solve it.
3) Banning me doesn't actually change my blog post, the areas where I'd like to see Bambi's videos improve, or my desire to offer constructive criticism to the creative community. I'm a critic -- I mean, I'm really a critic in everyday life, I write entertainment reviews for a magazine -- and that's not going away. I don't feel that what I said was unfair. It's not "disinformation" -- it's just editorial information. And I have the right to post that as much as they have the right to refuse me service. I think my banning actually caused more people to read that blog post than if they'd just left well enough alone.
4) Every time I write a review on my day job or a story in my other life, I expect to hear negative feedback as well as hoping for positive. Any and all content creators who release their work publicly (especially commercially) should be prepared for the same. If you feel threatened by customer feedback, you will not succeed. This is a song I've sung before. Twice.
5) What a drag.
Saturday, March 01, 2008
Bambi vs. Taylor?
This should be interesting. Bambi has been the only actress brave and enthusiastic enough to shoot inflation videos on a regular basis. But Mistress Taylor just showed up on bodyinflation.org to check out the community and announce her intent to cater to our fetish. (She currently caters to many others.)
This can only be good. Fresh content from a fresh perspective is always awesome. It's clear from the sample clips that Taylor and her team are semi-pro, and while they don't have Bambi's expertise or excellent costumes/props, even the creative workarounds in the BE trailers proved pretty effective. I'm eager to see what they wind up creating. And, like Bambi, they were eager to talk to the community and find out what they wanted to see. That's a good sign.
To be honest -- and it pains me to say this, because of the family feel I have always preferred in our community -- I've been wondering how long I'm going to keep paying for Bambi's work. It seems like the videos are posted less frequently, contain more filler (I felt last year's experiments with the second actress was a mistake), and aren't getting better in quality. I've always accepted that Bambi's films were humble homemade productions and more about use of cool props than the improv acting -- I knew that when I signed up and I have paid for it because, well, there's nothing else out there even close to what I'm looking for, and she's certainly dealing with the right subject matter. I'm still paying about $30 each month for access to her two sites. But I really did think by now that the performances and productions would have naturally improved, but they've kind of stayed the same -- a ten minute film opens with the same credit treatment, spends a long time setting up a disposable story (which is often hard to hear -- no mics are in use), and when the inflation comes around, the film is abruptly cut off as "part 1." When part 2 is posted (which used to be the following week but now has become unfortunately a lot more...flexible), the remaining four minutes of the scene are basically Bambi moaning. Meanwhile, there's oodles of dialogue in story archives just waiting to be read for inspiration, several common recurring phrases that really do have power. I download the next video and the next video hoping I will hear some of that stuff, but I rarely do.
What Bambi does is hard. It takes effort, it takes planning, it takes time, and it takes money. And it's not personalized content -- I certainly don't expect that every film is my personal fantasy scenario. But am I the only one looking critically at this stuff?
So if someone else is coming to town to try their hand at it, I say, good. If we get one good new outlet and one existing outlet breaks out of its ruts as a response, everybody wins, and I'll be happy to give my money to both camps.
This can only be good. Fresh content from a fresh perspective is always awesome. It's clear from the sample clips that Taylor and her team are semi-pro, and while they don't have Bambi's expertise or excellent costumes/props, even the creative workarounds in the BE trailers proved pretty effective. I'm eager to see what they wind up creating. And, like Bambi, they were eager to talk to the community and find out what they wanted to see. That's a good sign.
To be honest -- and it pains me to say this, because of the family feel I have always preferred in our community -- I've been wondering how long I'm going to keep paying for Bambi's work. It seems like the videos are posted less frequently, contain more filler (I felt last year's experiments with the second actress was a mistake), and aren't getting better in quality. I've always accepted that Bambi's films were humble homemade productions and more about use of cool props than the improv acting -- I knew that when I signed up and I have paid for it because, well, there's nothing else out there even close to what I'm looking for, and she's certainly dealing with the right subject matter. I'm still paying about $30 each month for access to her two sites. But I really did think by now that the performances and productions would have naturally improved, but they've kind of stayed the same -- a ten minute film opens with the same credit treatment, spends a long time setting up a disposable story (which is often hard to hear -- no mics are in use), and when the inflation comes around, the film is abruptly cut off as "part 1." When part 2 is posted (which used to be the following week but now has become unfortunately a lot more...flexible), the remaining four minutes of the scene are basically Bambi moaning. Meanwhile, there's oodles of dialogue in story archives just waiting to be read for inspiration, several common recurring phrases that really do have power. I download the next video and the next video hoping I will hear some of that stuff, but I rarely do.
What Bambi does is hard. It takes effort, it takes planning, it takes time, and it takes money. And it's not personalized content -- I certainly don't expect that every film is my personal fantasy scenario. But am I the only one looking critically at this stuff?
So if someone else is coming to town to try their hand at it, I say, good. If we get one good new outlet and one existing outlet breaks out of its ruts as a response, everybody wins, and I'll be happy to give my money to both camps.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
The past never goes away
I have told three people about my fetish in real life. The first was a girlfriend in high school. I was a a geeky sophomore; she was a well-endowed freshman. Young love and crushes are awkward enough but for some reason I played the "what turns you on" game over the phone with her. She said the usual stuff -- romantic music, candlelight, soft touches. For some reason when it was my turn, I didn't chicken out. I told her the truth.
She had a sense of humor (or else I wouldn't have been dating her) and she teased me about it a little bit later, but our relationship was very chaste and no urges were ever acted upon. I also played the villain, initiating an abrupt breakup. No more about my unusual turn-on was ever discussed.
This was 20 years ago. We've remained friends as adults and we play Scrabulous on Facebook. We're both happily married and she's thrilled to have several kids. But I realized that we'd hit the anniversary for the dumping, so I sheepishly apologized again. She said I'm forgiven but the fact that I'm still apologizing must count for something -- "Power to the boobies! Long live HC!"
HC? I asked what it stood for. Apparently I'd articulated a nickname for her -- "HC" for "helium chest" -- back in the day.
All these years, I thought she had forgotten -- we'd had plenty of discussions about all kinds of other things since, but my deviant desires never came up. And besides, it sounds so silly...maybe she played it off as a joke?
I trust her with this secret. This ain't going nowhere; this is not e-flirting. We are both happy where and with whom we are today. I have since learned that this is part of who I am, but I do not feel the need to make everybody aware of that part.
But I sure was surprised to realize that she's still got blackmail on me after all these years. :)
She had a sense of humor (or else I wouldn't have been dating her) and she teased me about it a little bit later, but our relationship was very chaste and no urges were ever acted upon. I also played the villain, initiating an abrupt breakup. No more about my unusual turn-on was ever discussed.
This was 20 years ago. We've remained friends as adults and we play Scrabulous on Facebook. We're both happily married and she's thrilled to have several kids. But I realized that we'd hit the anniversary for the dumping, so I sheepishly apologized again. She said I'm forgiven but the fact that I'm still apologizing must count for something -- "Power to the boobies! Long live HC!"
HC? I asked what it stood for. Apparently I'd articulated a nickname for her -- "HC" for "helium chest" -- back in the day.
All these years, I thought she had forgotten -- we'd had plenty of discussions about all kinds of other things since, but my deviant desires never came up. And besides, it sounds so silly...maybe she played it off as a joke?
I trust her with this secret. This ain't going nowhere; this is not e-flirting. We are both happy where and with whom we are today. I have since learned that this is part of who I am, but I do not feel the need to make everybody aware of that part.
But I sure was surprised to realize that she's still got blackmail on me after all these years. :)
Monday, February 04, 2008
The power of the blueberry, indeed
My real life and my fetish life don't intersect often -- but I was laughing all the way through this note I got recently, and for all the wrong reasons:
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Hi there! Have you heard of TrueBlue yet?
With all the recent studies just released on the incredible health benefits of Blueberries, I wanted to send you some info on our juice brand, which Nielsen’s ratings have shown is among the fastest growing juice brands in North America! Ours is among the best in the world, and a great natural source of daily blueberries. Mom’s and health nuts alike are really taking to our product, and we want to talk about it!
Our resident Blueberry expert was hoping to talk up the new product and all the health benefits – any interest in an interview or recipe session for our health smoothies?
Our product is available North America wide now and we’re seeing a HUGE demand for it ever since CNN’s Dr. Gupta and Oprah both started praising the power of the blueberry……. I’d love you to hear our story, we’re competing right alongside big US brands like Coke and Pepsi – and doing well!
Please let me know, and thanks!
www.trueblueberry.com
--
Any takers? I'll be there's a market segment that reads this blog that these folks have never even considered.
--
Hi there! Have you heard of TrueBlue yet?
With all the recent studies just released on the incredible health benefits of Blueberries, I wanted to send you some info on our juice brand, which Nielsen’s ratings have shown is among the fastest growing juice brands in North America! Ours is among the best in the world, and a great natural source of daily blueberries. Mom’s and health nuts alike are really taking to our product, and we want to talk about it!
Our resident Blueberry expert was hoping to talk up the new product and all the health benefits – any interest in an interview or recipe session for our health smoothies?
Our product is available North America wide now and we’re seeing a HUGE demand for it ever since CNN’s Dr. Gupta and Oprah both started praising the power of the blueberry……. I’d love you to hear our story, we’re competing right alongside big US brands like Coke and Pepsi – and doing well!
Please let me know, and thanks!
www.trueblueberry.com
--
Any takers? I'll be there's a market segment that reads this blog that these folks have never even considered.
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