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Sensual Symphony

Erotic journeys to engage the mind, body, heart and all the senses leaving you spellbound and tongue tied

Alt Problems concerning blogs, emails and group posts
Posted:Aug 2, 2007 6:14 am
Last Updated:Aug 14, 2007 12:32 am
7440 Views

Good morning everyone!

I've been experiencing serious problems with blog posts, email and group posts over the last several days.

I've been on the phone for two hours already with Alt trying to deal with the problems but they've not been solved yet. They're looking into the issues.

If you've posted in my blog in the last few days, they may not appear to me yet you may be able to see them so I'm unable to post a comment in response.

I'm having a similar issue with some group posts that appear to have been approved yet don't appear on the queue of the main page of the group.

If you sent an email to me and didn't receive a reply, it's because I haven't received your email in any of my folders including the bulk folder which is also causing problems for many of us.

Thank you for bearing with me while all attempts are being made to resolve the problem.

Have a great day,

Alter
6 Comments
Her Dilemma Intensifies
Posted:Aug 1, 2007 8:00 pm
Last Updated:Mar 16, 2016 10:16 pm
7415 Views
I’m mesmerized by your breathtaking beauty as I step back observing you bound while we regain our senses then embrace and kiss you expressing my exuberance with your gift of submission to me and your grasping the great paradox of finding the ultimate freedom within the confines of the strictest psychological and physical bondage. I feed you some chocolates and see the pleasure on your face. I’m overwhelmed with joy having you with me and at my complete mercy. I tenderly touch the protruding tips of your nipples sending waves of pleasure through your mind and body as I kiss you softly on your cheek and whisper in your ear, “You’re such a good girl.” There’s no doubt I want you in every way imaginable. I want to dominate you completely making you mine forever. I’m in no hurry and after it’s obvious you’ve had all the chocolate you desire, I bring a glass to your lips and encourage you to drink. I patiently tilt the glass allowing you to take in all you like until finally the glass is completely empty. I kiss you passionately for some time as you feel me release your wrists from the chain keeping them above your head. I bring your wrists behind your back again and fasten the cuffs together in one smooth motion then coax you to walk along with me as we make our way to another room. Walking is a challenging task for you considering your ankles and thighs remain bound together but you do your best as always while I accompany you patiently. You feel something stop you as your knees meet the softness of what feels like a bed. I push you down playfully and quickly bring your ankles back up behind you bending your knees and tie the cuffs holding your wrists to the ones holding your ankles resulting in the classic hogtie. You lay there on your stomach now bound and helpless wondering what’s in store for you. You hear me walk away for a while and hear a closet door open and then close. Then you hear me walk into another room and hear water running for some time. You ponder your fate as time passes wondering what I’m up to. Then, the sound of my hurried footsteps inform you I’m returning making you a little anxious and excited at the same time. You feel me kiss you so tenderly on your temple and moan as I take in your beauty, scent, softness and vulnerability at the same time. I step back; you feel a very warm hand move along the back of your thigh as it travels upward between your legs finding it’s way to your most tender regions, lightly caressing your throbbing wetness noticing how swollen you are now. You’re delighted with my alternating lightness and firmness of touch as my fingers and hands explore and tease you. You inform me of your need to use the bathroom. I respond, “You’re just going to have to hold it my dear.” You realize a predicament has developed and contemplate your options. It occurs to you that perhaps I have been subtly encouraging you to drink liquids during our evening with a possible ulterior motive. You wonder if it was the product of politeness or deviousness now. The conflict is growing and you plead, “I really have to go now.” I begin rubbing you a bit faster responding, “I’m not stopping you.” You realize I’m not going to give in so easily but your need for relief is increasing. It occurs to you I’ve presented you with a dilemma and wonder how I could be so nonchalant. It becomes apparent that I delight in presenting you with choices to see how you will respond. You’re bound yet free to decide between two alternatives. Your growing discomfort from the dilemma is becoming more visible. You wonder, “How can he be so brutal?” Ah, but nothing could be further from the truth. It’s not that I merely enjoy observing you as you contemplate your new dilemma; it’s that I wish for us both to gain complete knowledge of your innermost thoughts and being. When absolute truth of your deepest self is completely known to me, I will be able to fully realize your deepest desires and needs. When absolute truth of your true self is completely known to you, you can relax and embrace your newly found freedom from deep within. You feel my other hand gently stroking the back of your head as I reveal in a soft tone, “It’s alright my sweet girl; hold it as long as you can. When you can hold it no longer, you may go right here, however, going right here has its consequences. The bed is lined so it’s ok. Trust me.” A tinge of fear races through your mind as the word “consequences” echoes time and time again in your head. Now you think to yourself, “Is he doing this in order to have an excuse to punish me?” Of course in time, you’ll discover I don’t see any need for that from my experience. I cup you reassuringly pressing against your saturated sex as I stroke your silky hair again and bend down to kiss you on your cheek. I whisper in your ear, “I want to make you so happy and feel so relaxed.” I continue teasing and rubbing you as you begin moving your hips more now. You try with all your intelligence and heart combined to understand how this man can simultaneously be so sweet, loving, tender, warmhearted, caring and affectionate yet possess such a dark devious side that reveals itself at this time. Meanwhile, it’s an incredible sight having you there bound and aroused so helpless and excited at the same time. You reassure yourself it will all be fine in the end. Profound pleasure is on the horizon. If only you could get past this current dilemma. Your choice will change the course of the evening as I have designs accompanying either path. Of course, I could simply release you now but it’s the dilemma itself that has me mesmerized as I delight in your predicament while looking deeply into your pleading eyes. It’s a precious moment in time that will never be forgotten.
0 Comments
Food Play - Sumptuous Sensuality - Yummy!
Posted:Aug 1, 2007 1:26 pm
Last Updated:Aug 1, 2007 10:59 pm
5460 Views
There’s a growing hunger for food play. For some, it whets the appetite while others find it distasteful. It comes in a variety of flavors from candlelit dinners and romantically feeding your sweetie strawberries, whipped cream and sparkling wine to a range of more diverse activities.

Food is often associated with sex. Strawberries, grapes, cherries, oysters and chocolate may be some of the most famous. There’s a well known art film showing the unveiling of an orange purely for its erotic appeal. My cooking skills improved immensely in college and I won the hearts of a few women with some creative culinary techniques.

I think 9 1/2 weeks is a good point of departure for epicurean applications and some enjoy using foods like cucumbers or bananas for penetration. One lovely grocer laughed so hard she almost forgot to charge me when she noticed my arrangement of an English cucumber and two tomatoes coming at her on the belt. The old joke about the difference between kinky and perverse being the use of a feather versus the whole chicken offers another deviation from general culinary practices even if many find it foul.

How about licorice whips? Pop rocks candy? Got Milk? We’ve all seen what happens when whipped cream is applied beyond its intended use and cake decorating has been known to take on additional meaning. We’re all familiar with cake and pie gone awry. We usually associate these activities with slapstick but for some it can find its way into the sexual palette. It can be fun, sexy, crazy, defiling or just plain silly; it just depends how it’s applied and how it’s perceived.

The only limitations I see with food play are creativity and safety. I love chocolate and feeding it to my partner is always pleasurable. But it’s also quite versatile. A girlfriend in college and I found new applications for raw brownie batter. If you were to call her today, mention my name and ask about brownie mix, she will break into uncontrollable laughter. Of course, it can be quite dramatic as well. Janet Leigh was sporting chocolate syrup in the shower scene of Psycho. Whether it’s served up for sensuality, decadence, humiliation or other possibilities, it can spice up the direction of your evening.

There are numerous recipes out there for fake blood and other body fluids can be simulated with varying degrees of edibility as well. A simple recipe for blood consists of corn syrup and red food coloring with just a drop or two of blue to get the right hue. It stains skin and clothing though but at least it’s edible. Other variations add detergent to help reduce its staining power. There are several for semen as well. The simplest is just a couple teaspoons of flour added to a cup or so of water and simmered to the desired consistency. Other recipes include ingredients like arrowroot, evaporated milk, Béchamel sauce, Brie, egg whites, and cream.

I think a word on safety is in good taste here. Some people engage in fire play with brandy which is certainly creative as long as you don’t wind up having a heated discussion with the local fire chief. Of course one wants to avoid choking so that’s a consideration. When it comes to penetration, keep in mind that introducing food or beverages into orifices other than the mouth poses various risks and is generally not a good idea. Other orifices are sensitive to bacteria and infection is always a consideration. Something as harmless as candy can give a woman a serious yeast infection in no time. Alcohol can be highly toxic, way more than when ingested. The basic rule for food is to never keep anything perishable out for more than four hours. There is more detailed information out there if you’re really serious about trying things you might believe could pose a health problem. Most people engage in food play with no unpleasant end result except a tossed salad.

I’ve provided a sampling of some amuse-bouches; now it’s your turn. If you have any expressions of sensuality or deviance with food, it would be fulfilling to feed the need by sharing it. Even if you don’t play with your food, put your reservations aside and try to think of a new creative twist on an old recipe that might find its way under the heading of food play. Let’s see what we can cook up. Too many cooks in the kitchen can make a really hot kitchen and an even hotter banquet of carnality.

Bon appétit !
0 Comments
Music is Magic
Posted:Aug 1, 2007 1:46 am
Last Updated:Aug 3, 2007 4:52 pm
6214 Views
Music is a major part of my life. It can evoke so many emotions. It can instantly take you back to a specific place and time. It can transform you to somewhere youve never imagined. Its magic! I cant imagine life without it.

I like a wide variety of music from classical music and jazz to the latest hits on the radio.

Please share your favorite music. If there are lyrics and you can find them, it would be nice to add them as well but its not necessary.

To begin, this is a pop song I love by Michelle Branch

"Everywhere"

Turn it inside out so I can see
The part of you that's drifting over me
And when I wake you're, you're never there
But when I sleep you're, you're everywhere
You're everywhere

Just tell me how I got this far
Just tell me why you're here and who you are
'Cause every time I look
You're never there
And every time I sleep
You're always there

'Cause you're everywhere to me
And when I close my eyes it's you I see
You're everything I know
That makes me believe
I'm not alone
I'm not alone

I recognize the way you make me feel
It's hard to think that
You might not be real
I sense it now, the water's getting deep
I try to wash the pain away from me
Away from me

'Cause you're everywhere to me
And when I close my eyes it's you I see
You're everything I know
That makes me believe
I'm not alone
I'm not alone

I am not alone
Whoa, oh, oooh, oh

And when I touch your hand
It's then I understand
The beauty that's within
It's now that we begin
You always light my way
I hope there never comes a day
No matter where I go
I always feel you so

'Cause you're everywhere to me
And when I close my eyes it's you I see
You're everything I know
That makes me believe
I'm not alone
'Cause you're everywhere to me
And when I catch my breath
It's you I breathe
You're everything I know
That makes me believe
I'm not alone

You're in everyone I see
So tell me
Do you see me?
2 Comments
Definition of "The Lifestyle"
Posted:Aug 1, 2007 12:40 am
Last Updated:Aug 6, 2007 8:30 am
5939 Views

Will we ever agree on a definition of “the lifestyle” and other ambiguous terms?

When people who are well known, educated and respected here are asked what is meant by “the lifestyle”, nobody is able to produce a clear definition that will work beyond their personal view yet the term is used daily.

People come here with an open mind to learn more about their particular interests which are widely varied. They come here seeking clarity and find themselves more confused as they hear ambiguous terminology tossed about. It seems to have a specific meaning contextually yet we can see intelligent people who are devoted to BDSM can’t find or produce a unified definition. What does that say?

Beginning with the dictionary:

Lifestyle - manner of living: the way of life characteristic of a particular person, group, or culture

Alternative lifestyle - a lifestyle (a mode or style of conducting one's life) which carries the implication that it is not within the generally perceived cultural norm. Usually, but not always, it implies an affinity or identification within some matching subculture

If we agree that BDSM is defined as the incorporation of variations of bondage, discipline, sadomasochism and the commonly associated fetishes as well as dominance and submission in a consentual, safe, sane or at least risk aware and consentual way then I think a BDSM lifestyle by definition is anyone living an alternative lifestyle incorporating BDSM. They’re living a BDSM lifestyle. Are they living “the BDSM lifestyle”, the “D/s lifestyle” or “the lifestyle”? Nobody seems able to explain that definitively.

I hope we’re all striving for understanding through clarity in our communication.

A productive discussion requires an agreement on the terms used.

How would you modify this basic working definition to work for all so we may use it and understand what is meant?
1 comment
Crustless Chocolate Marbled New York Cheesecake
Posted:Jul 31, 2007 6:59 pm
Last Updated:Aug 6, 2007 8:24 am
6463 Views
I've made this successfully many times and thought someone may wish to try it out.

Crustless Chocolate Marbled Cheescake

5 ( 8 oz) packages (40 oz total) cream cheese , softened at room temperature
1 3/4 cups sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
6 large eggs
4 oz bittersweet or semisweet chocolate
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon brandy

Preheat oven to 500°F (260°C).

Melt the chocolate in a double boiler. Beat the cream cheese and sugar with an electric mixer until smooth then add the flour. Add eggs one at a time, then vanilla and brandy, beating on low speed until each ingredient is incorporated and scraping down bowl between additions.

Prepare a 9 inch springform pan by lightly buttering it and dusting with flour then shaking out the excess. Lay 2 one-inch wide strips of parchment paper crisscrossed along the bottom of the pan coming up the sides so there’s some overhang and place a nine inch circle of parchment paper over the strips. This step will enable you to easily slide the cheesecake onto a serving platter after it’s baked and chilled completely.

Place the springform pan on a baking sheet. Pour the batter into the springform pan. Add the melted chocolate by spoonfuls in different places and use a spatula to either swirl the chocolate around or use a back and forth motion to create the marble appearance and bake in the center of the oven 12 minutes, or until puffed. Open oven door and reduce temperature to 325°F (163°C) and continue baking until cake is mostly firm (center will still be slightly wobbly when pan is gently shaken), about 1 hour more.

Gently run a knife around top edge of cake to loosen and cool completely in springform pan on a rack. Chill cake, loosely covered, at least 6 hours, preferably overnight. Remove side of pan and transfer cake to a plate. Whip cream is an optional garnish and may be served with berries.

Bon Appétit !
2 Comments
Favorite Quotes
Posted:Jul 31, 2007 5:27 am
Last Updated:Aug 22, 2007 9:36 am
5270 Views
This is from one of my favorite movies of all time.

Name it if you can and leave a favorite quote of yours for the next person if you like.

Daydream delusion, limousine eyelash

Oh baby with your pretty face

Drop a tear in my wineglass

Look at those big eyes

See what you mean to me

Sweet-cakes and milkshakes

I'm a delusion angel

I'm a fantasy parade

I want you to know what I think

Don't want you to guess anymore

You have no idea where I came from

We have no idea where we're going

Lodged in life

Like branches in a river

Flowing downstream

Caught in the current

I carry you

You'll carry me

That's how it could be

Don't you know me?

Don't you know me by now?

1 comment
Breath Control Play - Is it really worth it?
Posted:Jul 31, 2007 1:39 am
Last Updated:Aug 1, 2007 12:55 am
6686 Views

This topic has come up in discussions a few times recently and it's my hope that anyone interested in trying it will take the time to read this carefully. It took me seconds to find on the internet. A little research can go a long way.

The Medical Realities of Breath Control Play

Copyright 1997 by Jay Wiseman, author of SM 101: A Realistic Introduction. All rights reserved.

For some time now, I have felt that the practices of suffocation and/or strangulation done in an erotic context (generically known as breath control play; more properly known as asphyxiaphilia) were in fact far more dangerous than they are generally perceived to be. As a person with years of medical education and experience, I know of no way whatsoever that either suffocation or strangulation can be done in a way that does not intrinsically put the recipient at risk of cardiac arrest. (There are also numerous additional risks; more on them later.) Furthermore, and my
*biggest* concern, I know of no reliable way to determine when such a cardiac arrest has become imminent.

Often the first detectable sign that an arrest is approaching is the arrest itself. Furthermore, if the recipient does arrest, the probability of resuscitating them, even with optimal CPR, is distinctly small. Thus the recipient is dead and their partner, if any, is in a very perilous legal situation. (The authorities could consider such deaths first-degree murders until proven otherwise, with the burden of such proof being on the defendant). There are also the real and major concerns of the surviving partner's own life-long remorse to having caused such a death, and the trauma to the friends and family members of both parties.

Some breath control fans say that what they do is acceptably safe because they do not take what they do up to the point of unconsciousness. I find this statement worrisome for two reasons: (1) You can't really know when a person is about to go unconscious until they actually do so, thus it's extremely difficult to know where the actual point of unconsciousness is until you actually reach it. (2) More importantly, unconsciousness is a symptom, not a condition in and of itself. It has numerous underlying causes ranging from simple fainting to cardiac arrest, and which of these will
cause the unconsciousness cannot be known in advance.

I have discussed my concerns regarding breath control with well over a dozen SM-positive physicians, and with numerous other SM-positive health professionals, and all share my concerns. We have discussed how breath control might be done in a way that is not life-threatening, and come up blank. We have discussed how the risk might be significantly reduced, and come up blank. We have discussed how it might be determined that an arrest is imminent, and come up blank.

Indeed, so far not one (repeat, not one) single physician, nurse, paramedic, chiropractor, physiologist, or other person with substantial training in how a human body works has been willing to step forth and teach a form of breath control play that they are willing to assert is acceptably safe -- i.e., does not put the recipient at imminent, unpredictable risk of dying. I believe this fact makes a major statement.

Other "edge play" topics such as suspension bondage, electricity play, cutting, piercing, branding, enemas, water sports, and scat play can and have been taught with reasonable safety, but not breath control play. Indeed, it seems that the more somebody knows about how a human body
works, the more likely they are to caution people about how dangerous breath control is, and about how little can be done to reduce the degree of risk.

In many ways, oxygen is to the human body, and particularly to the heart and brain, what oil is to a car's engine. Indeed, there's a medical adage that goes "hypoxia (becoming dangerously low on oxygen) not only stops the motor, but also wrecks the engine." Therefore, asking how one can
play safely with breath control is very similar to asking how one can drive a car safely while draining it of oil.

Some people tell the "mechanics" something like, "Well, I'm going to drain my car of oil anyway, and I'm not going to keep track of how low the oil level is getting while I'm driving my car, so tell me how to do this with as much safety as possible." (They may even add someting like "Hey, I always shut the engine off before it catches fire." ) They then get frustrated when the
mechanics scratch their heads and say that they don't know. They may even label such mechanics as "anti-education."

A bit about my background may help explain my concerns. I was an ambulance crewman for over eight years. I attended medical school for three years, and passed my four-year boards, (then ran out of money). I am a former member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and a
former American Heart Association instructor in Advanced Cardiac Life Support. I have an extensive martial arts background that includes a first-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do. My martial arts training included several months of judo that involved both my choking and being choked.

I have been an instructor in first aid, CPR, and various advanced emergency care techniques for over sixteen years. My students have included physicians, nurses, paramedics, police officers, fire fighters, wilderness emergency personnel, martial artists, and large numbers of ordinary citizens. I currently offer both basic and advanced first aid and CPR training to the SM community.

During my ambulance days, I responded to at least one call involving the death of a young teenage boy who died from autoerotic strangulation, and to several other calls where this was suspected but could not be confirmed. (Family members often "sanitize" such scenes before calling 911.) Additionally, I personally know two members of my local SM community who went to prison after their partners died during breath control play.

The primary danger of suffocation play is that it is not a condition that gets worse over time (regarding the heart, anyway, it does get worse over time regarding the brain). Rather, what happens is that the more the play is prolonged, the greater the odds that a cardiac arrest will occur.
Sometimes even one minute of suffocation can cause this; sometimes even less.

Quick pathophysiology lesson # 1: When the heart gets low on oxygen, it starts to fire off "extra" pacemaker sites. These usually appear in the ventricles and are thus called premature ventricular contractions -- PVC's for short. If a PVC happens to fire off during the electrical repolarization phase of cardiac contraction (the dreaded "PVC on T " phenomenon, also sometimes called "R on T ") it can kick the heart over into ventricular fibrillation -- a form of cardiac arrest. The lower the heart gets on oxygen, the more PVC's it generates, and the more vulnerable to their effect it becomes, thus hypoxia increases both the probability of a PVC-on-T occurring and of its causing a cardiac arrest.

When this will happen to a particular person in a particular session is simply not predictable. This is exactly where most of the medical people I have discussed this topic with "hit the wall." Virtually all medical folks know that PVC's are both life-threating and hard to detect unless the patient is hooked to a cardiac monitor. When medical folks discuss breath control play, the question quickly becomes: How can you tell when they start throwing PVC's? The answer is: You basically can't.

Quick pathophysiology lesson # 2: When breathing is restricted, the body cannot eliminate carbon dioxide as it should, and the amount of carbon dioxide in the blood increases. Carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2 exist in equilibrium with what's called carbonic acid (H2CO3) in a reaction catalyzed by an enzyme called carbonic anhydrase. (Sorry, but I can't do subscripts in this program.)

Thus: CO2 + H2O (carbonic anhydrase) H2CO3
A molecule of carbonic acid dissociates on its own into a molecule of what's called bicarbonate (HCO3-) and an (acidic) hydrogen ion. (H+)

Thus: H2CO3 () HCO3- and H+

Thus the overall pattern is:

H2O + CO2 () H2CO3 () HCO3- + H+

Therefore, if breathing is restricted, CO2 builds up and the reaction shifts to the right in an attempt to balance things out, ultimately making the blood more acidic and thus decreasing its pH. This is called respiratory acidosis. (If the patient hyperventilates, they "blow off CO2" and the reaction shifts to the left, thus increasing the pH. This is called respiratory alkalosis, and has itsown dangers.)

Quick pathophysiology lesson # 3:

Again, if breathing is restricted, not only does carbon dioxide have a hard time getting out, but oxygen also has a hard time getting in. A molecule of glucose (C6H12O6) breaks down within the cell by a process called glycolysis into two molecules of pyruvate, thus creating a small amount of
ATP for the body to use as energy. Under normal circumstances, pyruvate quickly combines with oxygen to produce a much larger amount of ATP. However, if there's not enough oxygen to properly metabolize the pyruvate, it is converted to lactic acid and produces one form of what's called a metabolic acidosis.

As you can see, either a build-up in the blood of carbon dioxide or a decrease in the blood of oxygen will cause the pH of the blood to fall. If both occur at the same time, as they do in cases of suffocation, the pH of the blood will plummet to life-threatening levels within a very few minutes. The pH of normal human blood is in the 7.35 to 7.45 range (slightly alkaline). A pH falling to 6.9 (or raising to 7. is "incompatible with life."

Past experience, either with others or with that same person, is not particularly useful. Carefully watching their level of consciousness, skin color, and pulse rate is of only limited value. Even hooking the bottom up to both a pulse oximeter and a cardiac monitor (assuming you had either piece of equipment, and they're not cheap) would be of only limited additional value.

While an experienced clinician can sometimes detect PVC's by feeling the patient's pulse, in reality the only reliable way to detect them is to hook the patient up to a cardiac monitor. The problem is that each PVC is potentially lethal, particularly if the heart is low on oxygen. Even if you "ease up" on the bottom immediately, there's no telling when the PVC's will stop. They could
stop almost at once, or they could continue for hours.

In addition to the primary danger of cardiac arrest, there is good evidence to document that there is a very real risk of cumulative brain damage if the practice is repeated often enough. In particular, laboratory studies of repeated brief interruption of blood flow to the brains of animals and studies of people with what's called "sleep apnea syndrome" (in which they stop breathing for up to two minutes while sleeping) document that cumulative brain damage does occur in such cases.

There are many documented additional dangers. These include, but are _not_ limited to: rupture of the windpipe, fracture of the larynx, damage to the blood vessels in the neck, dislodging a fatty plaque in a neck artery which then travels to the brain and causes a stroke, damage to the cervical spine, seizures, airway obstruction by the tongue, and aspiration of vomitus. Additionally, there are documented cases in which the recipient appeared to fully recover but was found dead several hours later.

The American Psychiatric Association estimates a death rate of one person per year per million of population -- thus about 250 deaths last year in the U.S. Law enforcement estimates go as much as four times higher. Most such deaths occur during solo play, however there are many documented cases of deaths that occurred during play with a partner. It should be noted that the presence of a partner does nothing to limit the primary danger, and does little or nothing to limit most of the secondary dangers.

Some people teach that choking can be safely done if pressure on the windpipe is avoided. Their belief is that pressing on the arteries leading to the brain while avoiding pressure on the windpipe can safely cause unconsciousness. The reality, unfortunately, is that pressing on the carotid arteries, _exactly_ as they recommend, presses on baroreceptors known as the carotid sinus bodies. These bodies then cause vasodilation in the brain, thus there is not enough blood to perfuse the brain and the recipient loses consciousness. However, that's not the whole story.

Unfortunately, a message is also sent to the main pacemaker of the heart, via the vagus nerve, to decrease the rate and force of the heartbeat. Most of the time, under strong vagal influence, the rate and force of the heartbeat decreases by one third. However, every now and then, the rate and force decreases to zero and the bottom "flatlines" into asystole -- another, and more difficult to treat, form of cardiac arrest. There is no way to tell whether or not this will happen in any particular instance, or how quickly. There are many documented cases of as little as five seconds of choking causing a vagal-outlfow-induced cardiac arrest.

For the reason cited above, many police departments have now either entirely banned the use of choke holds or have reclassified them as a form of deadly force. Indeed, a local CHP officer recently had a $250,000 judgment brought against him after a nonviolent suspect died while being
choked by him.

Finally, as a CPR instructor myself, I want to caution that knowing CPR does little to make the risk of death from breath control play significantly smaller. While CPR can and should be done, understand that the probability of success is likely to be less than 10%.

I'm not going to state that breath control is something that nobody should ever do under any circumstances. I have no problem with informed, freely consenting people taking any degree of risk they wish. I am going to state that there is a great deal of ignorance regarding what actually happens to a body when it's suffocated or strangled, and that the actual degree of risk associated with these practices is far greater than most people believe.

I have noticed that, when people are educated regarding the severity and unpredictability of the risks, fewer and fewer choose to play in this area, and those who do continue tend to play less often. I also notice that, because of its severe and unpredictable risks, more and more SM party-givers are banning any form of breath control play at their events.

If you'd like to look into this matter further, here are some references to get you started:

Emergency Care in the Streets by Caroline (I'd recommend starting here.)
Medical Physiology by Guyton
The Pathologic Basis of Disease by Robbins
Textbook of Advanced Cardiac Life Support by American Heart Association
The Physiology Coloring Book by Kapit, Macey, and Meisami
Forensic Pathology by DeMaio and Demaio
Autoerotic Fatalities by Hazelwood
Melloni's Illustrated Medical Dictionary by Dox
1 comment
Psychological Bondage
Posted:Jul 30, 2007 8:22 pm
Last Updated:Aug 1, 2007 6:59 pm
15777 Views
I think bondage is great whether its rope bondage, leather or rubber restraints or any other means to bind.

Im also fascinated with psychological bondage leaving a submissive to hold herself in place or in a position purely with her free will while enduring whatever transpires.
2 Comments
The History of BDSM
Posted:Jul 30, 2007 6:41 pm
Last Updated:Aug 3, 2007 4:30 am
16266 Views
The History of BDSM

Man began to walk upright. Some women take credit for this achievement suggesting this was only because they refused to come to him after a few grunts and a wink.

Cavemen chased women and attempted to force themselves upon them whenever the mood struck.

Nail clippers weren’t invented yet. A successful date with a cavewoman required skill, speed, great effort and luck but often resulted in pain and suffering regardless of whether his goal was met. Many men were discouraged.

Masturbation was discovered.

Cavemen had to work quickly once their victim was pinned down. Inaccuracy was inevitable due to the need for efficiency.

Anal sex was unveiled.

Some cavewomen accidentally discovered a sure way to avert hostile invasion was to inflict trauma to a man’s testicles. Because women talk amongst themselves, they spread the word quickly that the way to break a man’s spirit is by continually breaking his balls.

Cock and ball torture takes hold.

Because men think of sex every seven seconds and they realized there was only one way to get ahead, it wouldn’t be long afterward they concluded silence was needed to keep women from spreading this particularly dangerous information.

The gag was invented.

Cavemen were like all other men. Laziness was a constant source of inspiration. Once they discovered they could braid rope, the idea of not having to fight their mate while copulating with her had irresistible appeal.

Bondage was born.

Once the cavemen mastered the ability to secure their unwilling participants, devious ideas came in abundance. They reflected on years of testicular injury and flesh wounds.

Whips were unleashed.

torture was created.

With the women tied up, nothing was getting done. The caves were a mess and cavemen weren’t known for their cooking skills. Only the rarest women wished to remain bound. Many wanted to get out and shop at the cave malls or catch a Troggs concert at times.

They developed various ploys to convince the cavemen to free them ranging from the seductive batting of eyelashes or promising of favors to luring the cavemen into intelligent discussions and conversations about the direction of the relationship. Many of the men caved and freed their women. Once asleep, some of the cavewomen seized their opportunity.

Femdom was invented.

Some women worked out reasonable terms with their partners where they would alternate on a regular basis.

The Switch appears.

Others preferred things as they were to some degree and worked out various arrangements which were sometimes carved out in cave walls or written on papyrus.

The Fetish Consent Sheet is created.

Over the years, various technological advancements enhanced the experience but this tradition has remained incredibly consistent over the years. Man might not always be the smartest, but he knows a good thing when he sees it.
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