October 25, 2006

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Just Some Views... by Tatu

Disclaimer: This newsletter is just a collection of my ramblings. It is not intended to be authoritative in any way. Just reflections of my personal explorations. If anyone finds it interesting or helpful for me that is a plus. I don't know it all and stay far away from the elitists who think they do. I am no Master of anything, just a student on a journey who loves to explore life, art, relationships and hopefully will one day learn to at least be the Master my own soul and the loving leader of another self empowered one who wishes to walk along side me.

by Tatu

My Evil Twin

Most of you know me for my Japanese styled rope art and my appreciation for the Japanese culture and history, which I have studied since college days some 30 years ago. However, when I started rope, the first images I came across were those of the "damsel in distress" or detective magazines one summer in the 60's. There was a convenience store across the railroad tracks from my grandparent's home in Shreveport, Louisiana and on the top shelf of the magazine display were detective styled magazines. Then while in graduate school in the late 70's I again came across similar magazines in New Orleans; mostly some cult damsel in distress, a few Japanese style. Through the 80's I experimented with my ex with some "bedroom bondage" and a few excursions with western style garage captivity, including some predicament semi suspensions. It wasn't until the early 90's after I found happened upon a local Japanese Gardens and Cultural center that my interests started centering more on the Japanese style of rope and I embarked upon a path of research and exploration.

Some people tell me that my exterior with the bald head and goatee', a 6'1" 230# build is very intimidating. The other day someone wrote me on My Space saying: " just approved your friend's request...took one look at your picture (same one as above left) and thought something like this...geeeze, if I don't approve it, he might come up from florida and hurt me."  Yet people who truly know me, know that my spirit is very calm and harmonious. The last thing I want with anyone is conflict.

So, I suppose I am an enigma to some, as perhaps they would expect an egotistical domineering jerk to come forth from this exterior. Actually my visual persona is a perfect combination for the armed, plain clothes close protection work I do for my VIP clients.  To do what I do in real life could be seen in someways from the Samurai motif or any martial artist's life and walk which is always centered with a sense of balance, tranquility, and harmony; yet always ready to do what is necessary to protect my loved ones, or professionally my principal. Frankly, I find it hard to believe some people who boast of grand accomplishments in the martial arts, when they have seemingly little self-control or mastery of their own minds, habits and emotions.

I don't know if you ever noticed when you are around me, but I am always watching people scanning their movements, their hands, their body language, what they are carrying or anything unsual in their pockets. I always sit or stand with my back to the wall so no one can come up behind me, it's all a highly trained proactive professional habit.

Last Saturday night at our local Lifestyle Alternatives Center in Lake Worth, Florida, I revealed something of my rope roots, and perhaps an evil twin resembling more of my exterior persona than almost no one present had seen before. Let me allow my sadistic rope brother "Robert " to share what his perspective of our Shibari South Florida gathering, appropriately named, "Damsel In Distress" night. I love this guy and especially the way he writes:

Perhaps there is an evil twin Tatu, a sort of brutal, westernized counterpoint to the gentle, Japanese-oriented Tatu we all know and love...  In fact, it makes perfect sense to contemplate THAT possibility, considering the Tai Chi, symbol of Tao, illustrating that within a greater Yang is also contained a smaller bit of Yin.

This could help explain the horrible brute that rose up on Saturday night and assaulted poor sumi at our club in Lake Worth. It was quite shocking, really, and left many of us speechless.. .while others became breathless and wished it was happening to them.

The bottom line is that I thought Jimi was serious--at least at first--and that aloof sumi, in elegant pink and high heels was actually trying to prove something--namely, that she is a Top, merely serving as a bondo-mannequin, and if she shows up late for a demo, well then tough shit for you! ...

...But on Saturday night, once I realized what was going on I really got into the show and enjoyed it immensely! Too often performance art becomes flat, one-dimensional, and while bondage bottoms--especially those in Japanese rope--may fly to the moon under the spell of their ropes, those scenes are usually lacking in passion and thusly rather boring to watch, other than to appreciate the style and expertise of the bondage master.

Far more interesting and also hot, is to see someone squirming in painful restraint, begging, pleading, sweating, maybe even crying a bit, being threatened with all sorts of terrible things, forced to commit compromising sexual acts--all consensual, mind you--but still out there on the edge and dynamic, rather than simply arranged, posed, as though for the photographer and audience.

I appreciate the meditative effects of Japanese rope and the fact that many of the positions are simply too painful to struggle against, but still, there is still nothing better than a good show!

~Robert 

So who is Tatu? Some people love him,
others despise him, still others fear him.

Some have called him Master, others Sensei,
his close friends, Jimi.... his adversaries, "asshole".

Kinky Kollege: Reflections...

I just returned from my second time serving on the faculty of Kinky Kollege in Chicago, the institute for higher yearning.  This is absolutely one of the best organized events of any I have ever taken part in.  Sincere thanks to Master Z, Michael G and the entire Sinsations in Leather Organization. It was sold out at 350 participants.

For the bondage track, we had myself, Leon Grossman, shevah, Mademoiselle B, and Lochai.

Covering Ceremony

It was indeed an honor to take part in a historic moment last week in Chicago. Chuck Renslow, who opened the first gay leatherman's bar in the United States and founder of the Leather Archives and Museum was honored in a very special way. Many years ago due to his own illness and hospitalization, Chuck missed his own covering ceremony. A covering ceremony is a tradition in the gay leather culture. True Leathermen start from the bottom and work their way up. When Chuck was to be recognized by the community as a Master and given his leatherman's hat, he fell ill.  

When Master Z heard this story, he quietly organized a long overlooked yet well deserved "covering ceremony" for Chuck as a part of the opening ceremonies of Kinky Kollege. Participating in the ceremony were a host of legends including:

Master Tony Philbin, Founder of Hellfire Club

Master Z (Dallas), International Master 2004

Master Jack Rinella, Famous Lifestyle Author & Educator

Mistress Joanne Gaddy, Pantheon of Leather Woman of the Year 1999

Master Z (Chicago), Leather SINS C0-Founder

Special Guest Emcee Tom Stice, International Slave 1995 and Southeast Mr. Drummer 1998.

This opening night event is something I think the 100's of people in attendance will never forget.

Friends & Good Energy

For me an event like this is first a wonderful opportunity to spend quality time with my beautiful soulmate and ropey consort, shevah. We also got to cross paths with friends like Bob and passion, James and Jen, Sir Keith and phaedra,  Bruce and laura, Rap and purp, Greg and Jen, and many more.....

Got to give phaedra her first flight in the ropes, and be a part of a body painting of Greg's Jen while she was tied in an Ebi position. Phaedra also helped me in a couple of my classes as a demo model. Thank you all guys!

A very special highlight for me was the making of a couple of new friends, Travis and melody Wilson. What a sweet couple! Melody blessed us all on Saturday night with her classic 50's corsetted style on Saturday evening accenting an  classic hourglass figure. Travis is a nationally well known presenter with the bullwhips and single tails, who had to cancel last year due to Hurricane Katrina. That led to my introducing to Master Z, Florida's own Single Tail icon, Rapacious.  Travis had a special scene planned for his lovely lady, which he invited me into their sacred space to be a part of their special moment, binding her in position for the pleasure he had planned for her. What an honor.

Torture to Erotic Surrender:
A History and Psychology From the Japanese Cultural Perspective.

In addition to classes on Japanese Chest Harnesses and "Sex Shibari Style", I presented a new class for the very first time at Kinky Kollege.  It was a power point presentation with many Ukiyo images and other historic images about the history and psychology of rope from Japan.

As one class participant wrote to me:

"I felt your class on "Torture to Erotic Surrender" went very well. There was a good mix of background and fact mixed with a wonderful display of art. You timed the talk very well and I think that the audience was well pleased with your efforts. It was not the "usual" strip and whip class, but you broke the mold with "Way of the Rope" and this just further helps us to go beyond the "physical" aspect of our preferred play. Well done."

~ VICTOROD

This was the first time I had done a presentation of this type so I enlisted the help of a small group of 5 or 6 friends from south Florida who helped me by meeting with me the week before to preview my efforts . They gave me some excellent constructive criticism in order to help me make it better. Thank you! Also special thanks to Andrea from Chicago for brining her projector for my use in this class.

Another highlight was to have a group of fellow presenters gather at Master Z's home on Monday and view this presentation, among whom was author Dossie Easton. What a wonderful soul she is. I was able to attend one of her classes on relationships which was absolutely phenomenal.  

Master Z, Dominants & Leadership

Finally, I would like to comment about Master Z's leadership of this and other events. Plainly he knows how to lead. In this world of Doms and egos, conflicts and competition; Doms who have been everywhere, seen everything and are better than everyone else; Chicago is no different from any other part of the world. How to manage such egos and negotiate with diplomacy is a skill few possess.

Standing out however is Master Z who knows how to lead, with a firm assertiveness, but with a caring and serving heart. As he states, he is the "club bitch". One of the most impressive moments I observed was when he realized something he forgot and exclaimed, "oh man I fucked up, I'm going to have to apologize to (deleted) for that."

It takes a real man, a true Dominant who understands what "servant leadership" is all about and to say something like, "I fucked up".  It is that soul of servant leadership that has made Kinky Kollege and Sinsantions in Leather the huge success that they are.

Thanks again for allowing me to play a small role in the success of your dream.

~Tatu

Tatu@ds-arts.com
http://www.ds-arts.com

Issue 43

Friday, October 13, 2006

Mandatory Reading

By Jack Rinella

The Founding Fathers of our nation were of the opinion, shared through the years by many, that an educated citizenry was the best bulwark against despotism and the erosion of democracy in America. The same applies to the citizens of Kinkland, or whatever you want to call our alternate lifestyle, Leather, BDSM subculture.

The necessary education certainly includes all the fine workshops on technique and dungeon etiquette, on manners and protocols, and how to achieve the highest levels of altered states. We’re really good at meeting those educational goals, as well we should be. Where we seem to fail is in educating ourselves to live in the larger society that so easily condemns us when it thinks that we’re not living according to the standards of “normal” America.

My good friend Steven Toushin has just written (and published) a book that should be mandatory reading. Titled “The Destruction of the Moral Fabric of America” it is a fully educational tome that both underscores the anti-SM tactics of the coalition of the (not so) righteous right and the Federal Government and presents cogent essays on the true moral, ethical, and political fabric of the United States as envisioned by the architects of our Constitution, especially Thomas Jefferson.

Only by arming ourselves with the historical, political, and ethical information found in Toushin’s book can we be properly equipped to win the battle for our sexual freedoms.

OK, let me be sure to add all my disclaimers here. Mr. Toushin and I are close friends. Patrick and I are both on his payroll. Patrick and he are partners in KinkyBooks.com (where you can buy “Destruction”).

Steven and I travel to SM conventions together rather frequently and we often support one another’s literary endeavors. To say that I am hardly an impartial commentator is true, so go out and buy the book and make your own decision about it.

The 601 page book is both the story of the Federal Government’s prosecution of Toushin as “the country’s largest Gay pornographer” in 1989 and a related collection of essays on obscenity, morality, and democracy.

Especially noteworthy is Toushin’s chapter “Thomas Jefferson and Steven Toushin discuss the Moral Fabric of America,” an excellent compilation of quotes from the most famous founding author of American freedom.

Reading and learning what Jefferson wrote about personal freedom should be a significant part of every kinkster’s education.

As Toushin’s book illustrates by way of rather thorough biography and actual transcripts by his lawyers and the courts that heard testimony for and against him, the Federal Government waged a harassing war against creators and vendors of what according to their moral standards was obscenity. Though President Johnson’s Commission on Obscenity found that pornography caused few, if any, of the vices of which its detractors accused it, The Meese Commission, subsequently appointed by President Ronald Reagan, was purposely created to overturn the findings of the commission appointed by Johnson and thereby usher in an era of virulent anti-sex activity on the part of the nation’s self-appointed morality police.

Thomas Jefferson most certainly rolled over in his grave.

“Destruction” begins by introducing us to Toushin as the sexually-liberated, independent-minded, and child of the sixties turned entrepreneur, porn producer and activist for sexual freedom. Unfortunately for him, his activist meant fighting the U.S. government, hardly an easily defeated opponent.

Toushin then describes the making of the films which got him into trouble. The films in question were four extreme BDSM movies depicting sadomasochistic activity including knife play, humiliation, piss and scat. Rather than being sanitized versions of what it is that we do, the films were actual play by real players. Unfortunately for Toushin, federal investigators ordered the films be sent into places like Tennessee and Utah, specifically to entrap him, since those communities’ “local standards” would have deemed these films obscene.

Of course for the prosecution, it’s besides the point that the films were meant for consenting adults to view in the privacy of their own homes. They cared nothing for privacy nor for the consent of adults. Their moral compasses, skewed as they were, were determined to trump democratic freedom.

Next comes the “Big Bust,” indictments, et. al., enhanced by further chapters of historical background, making the book not just a biography of one man’s fight but a veritable encyclopedia about obscenity. These chapters are followed by the actual depositions and discussions held by Toushin’s lawyers in the preparation of his defense.

Here we can see the struggle that his defense team had (they were freedom fighters with no clue about what it is that we do) to understand the validity, the purpose, and the goals of consensual BDSM. Their attempt to understand not just SM but extreme SM is a testimony to their devotion to the preservation of our freedom. The resulting depositions, recorded in their quest to understand us, gives us professional views from psychiatrists, sociologists, and the others in the medical and legal profession. The defense also consulted several luminaries active in Leather at the time, including Guy Baldwin, Gayle Rubin, Jim Ward, and Geoff Mains.

The main body of the book concludes with the trial itself, which ended in a plea-bargained conviction, since it was the only way to avoid a repetition of the trial (which was held in Tennessee) in Utah. The federal government’s resources would allow it to harass Toushin into bankruptcy and prison ad infinitum, as is well-documented in this book. Their strategy was one of “death by a thousand pricks” and it often worked.

There is more to the educational value of this book than simply the prosecution of a pornographer. Toushin uses his story to give us his own insights (developed over more than 35 years’ involvement in kink) into our subculture, its present state, his vision of the future and a large number of appendices that further enlighten and inform us on this topic.

For those readers who see no need to be informed, Toushin has this to say: “People today enjoy more sexual freedom than ever before, and they often take this freedom for granted, never entertaining the idea that it could all be taken away in a moment's time, as history has epeatedly shown. The significance of this trial lies in what people do with the thoughts, ideas, and opinions that were expressed by all the participants: the prosecution, the defense, all who partook in the interviews, the expert witnesses, the Judge, and the Jury. This trial created an in-depth discussion about the lifestyle, about what BDSM means to the people who practice it, and about where and how it fits into the fabric of society and the fabric of a loving relationship.”

That’s why “Destruction” is mandatory reading. It’s an educational powerhouse that will help us to both win our sexual freedoms and preserve the democratic freedoms upon which our nation was founded. “The Destruction of the Moral Fabric of America” by Steven Toushin, (well-edited I might add by his slave Puppy, ISBN 978-1-884760-04-4, published by Wells Street Publishing, a part of the same company that brings you the Bijou Theater, BijouWorld.com, and KinkyBooks.com.

Have a great week. You can leave me email at mrjackr@... or visit my website at “http://www.LeatherViews.com”. Copyright 2006 by Jack Rinella, all rights reserved.

YOU can order this book here:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/188476004X/dsarts-20

Update on The Pet....  this just in!

Subject: THE PET Movie Available Tomorrow!!!
Date: 10/25/2006 11:04:53 P.M. Eastern Standard Time
From: joey @ tricoast . com
To: Jimi Tatu @ aol . com

THE PET will be available sometime tomorrow, October 26 at

http://www.thepetmovie.com/ !!!!!!!!!!

When this site is LIVE you'll be able to link to where you can buy the standard and special edition of THE PET from TriCoast DVD!!!

Lifestyle Alternatives Centre  ... aka LAC Lake Worth, Florida For the Grand opening the weekend of September 1, 2006, a new lifestyle venue opened in Lake Worth, Florida called the "Lifestyle Alternatives Centre", owned and run soley by Keiki and Jeff Weigle. It is a beautiful facility with over 4000 sq ft of space. It is a private, not for profit members only organization. The front is a designated erotic art gallery. At present the traveling erotic art show is on display with artists for this 2006 touring exhibition including: Steve Diet Goedde - Dave Naz - Barbara Nitke - Midori - James Mogul - Julie Simone - Lochai - Charles Gatewood - Steven Speliotis - Tina Butcher aka Madison Young - Chas Ray Krider

The center is a lounge area with kitchen.  In the rear is a 2400 sq ft educational / social area complete with a number of stations to practice your living erotic art. LAC is where I hold my Shibari South Florida / SILK gatherings on the 1st and 3rd Saturday evening of each month.   I was honored to be asked to give the opening night performance with a Shibari inspired suspension with my sweet friend Judy, aka "Lady Heather". Here are a few of pics by fetish / erotic photographer, Quietmaster. He is a wonderful friend, best known as one of Bettie Page's photographers back in the 50's.

Catherine Gross - Servant's Retreat is coming to the LAC in January 2007. Limited space available. Sponsored by Wolfe.

Also coming to LAC on Saturday, November 18th, sponsored by Shibari South Florida will be Master David Kentucky and subshevah for workshops on rope bottoming and head / face bondage.

SPICE - OTC our south Florida educational and support group holds it's monthly discussion meeting, "Off The Cuff" on the 1st Saturday of each month.

Here is information about LAC:

http://www.lifestylealternatives.org

LAC needs your help!!!

As in any start up in a venture like this financial support will take some time to establish. They are really in the crunch here in the beginning.

I am involved in assisting in raising funds for the center between now and November 18th.

I am asking lifesylists from around the world to make a contribution by going to:

Click here to make a donation for LAC

If you are someone of some means, please consider a contribution of $500 or more. They are in need of significant underwriting.

If you are on a strict budget, please consider a gift of $25.00 or more.

Please consider becoming a member of LAC.

MY SPACE

Are you on My Space?  Look me up and add me as your friend:: http://www.myspace.com/jimitatu

Upcoming Rope Related Events:

Shibaricon IV
May 25-28, 2007 (Tentative)
An International event in it's 4th year featuring an amazing
64 Workshops and 3 Play Party Nights
This event  historically has been attended by about 250-300 attendees each year.

(Image by Tatu)

What is Shibari South Florida / SILK ?

http://www.ds-arts/SSF

In 2000, I started something I called "Shibari South Florida".  We met in my home for a while and have met periodically since. Our numbers grew too large for my residence and so we have now ventured out into renting space for our workshop and social gatherings. Each workshop features something about rope, knots, ties, etc. followed by a social time we have named
"S. I. L. K." which stands for:

"Sensuous Intimate Loving Kinbaku"

Or,  Sadistic Insane Lascivious Kink, depends on our mood that night...

And sometimes we even enjoy:  

Sensuous Uninhibited Sexy Hot Intimacy

If you live in South Florida, and are interested in rope, please contact us about future gatherings.

Our next meeting will be Saturday, November 4th.

D/s ARts & Shibari South Florida has teamed up with Sir Michael of Erotic Hemp in Chicago to provide a quality hemp rope product to the Florida Community. Tatu will have 30' & 15' lengths of 6mm finished hemp rope available at SSF and other South Florida events. Also available will be the Tatsushi Rope bags.  See their new website:  http://www.erotichemp.com

Hemp rope is the traditional material used in shibari; a Japanese form of rope bondage. It is becoming more and more popular among bondage enthusiasts. Hemp rope is strict yet soft, it holds knots tighter with less slippage and it doesn't stretch. Erotic ropes are created from grade Romanian twisted hemp. Twelve hours of work go into each piece of erotic rope. Each length of rope is washed and then dried. The rope is then oiled, boiled, dried and singed to remove stray fibers. This process is repeated three times by a most loving rope slut so we can offer you the finest quality twisted hemp for all your bondage perversions.

(Image by Tatu)

C.A.R.E.   D/s ARts is also hosting a page for the Cincinnati Area Rope Enthusiasts, which meets once a month for what they "Rope Rendezvous". They have been having their maximum for the space which is 25 and have had had to turn people away virtually every month. This event is led by Master David of Kentucky and subshevah.

See: http://www.ds-arts.com/shevah/CARE.html

subshevah... We are also hosting a page for lifestylist and educator, subshevah. See her essays and teaching schedule at:

http://www.ds-arts.com/shevah

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Comments?  Email me at:

NOTE:
(c)  2006  Tatu
S.I.L.K.
"Sensuous Intimate Loving Kinbaku", or
Sadistic Insane Lascivious Kink,
and
Sensuous Uninhibited Sexy Hot Intimacy
are
copyright logos used to describe the
Japanese or Eastern School of D/s.
All rights reserved. Tatu