Sunday, September 15, 2024

A World of Strange Tastes

#NeverNormal now fits on a postcard

Copywriters love to browse through the weirdo catalogue when they need inspiration to sell us something. The stranger the better is their rule of thumb and what is more odd that BDSM? You've seen it in countless ads. One that immediately comes to mind is that of a doting housewife who moonlights as a dominatrix during the day when her husband is out to work. Her slaves clean, cook and anything else mistress desires. And just like a reverse Cinderella fairytale, they disappear right before the husband comes home. It leaves mistress just enough time to change her clothes into something 'more comfortable'. We all know love is equal parts trust and honesty so he must be in on the joke and loving it. What I am really curious about is whether or not such an ad is a sales boost.

Recently I came across an ad for Bass Ale in which a Humprey Bogart look alike is on the floor, licking a woman's blue boots. The text says "in a world of strange tastes, there is always Bass Ale." What does it even mean? According to Nat Whitten, who is probably in the advertising business, maybe he even came up with the add, this:

"A striking departure in tone, but not message, for this venerable British ale. The print, outdoor, and viral effort was designed to refresh the memories of lapsed users who’d been swayed by the latest microbrews, while encouraging trail among beer enthusiasts just entering the premium category."

Obviously. People who are into BDSM will never be considered normal by the rest of the world and no matter which way you show your customers just how freaky we are, it's never gonna make you any money so why not let us be. You can focus on creating adds that actually add value and we forgo all that valuable 'free publicity' and go back to the shadows. Everybody wins.


Face the Music

Mick Jagger -Strange Game

Currently watching Slow Horse, an Apple TV show about a group of outcast spies. The title track Strange Game is by Mick Jagger and it's rather catchy. Feels like an appropriate choice for today.

Mick Jagger - Strange Game [click to listen]

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The West continues to stick its head in the sand, still debating whether or not Ukraine can use missiles to hit targets in Russia. Which country those Russian missiles are aiming for? Putin has once again cried 'red line'. If you let Ukraine fire your missiles directly into Russia, we're at war with Nato. Don't worry, Putin has drawn so many red lines in the sand and they all have been crossed. His first red line was actually when he invaded Ukraine.

"Russia has drawn red lines before. And seen them crossed before.

On 24 February 2022, when he announced the start of his "special military operation" – the full-scale invasion of Ukraine – President Putin issued a warning to “those who may be tempted to interfere from the outside”.

“No matter who tries to stand in our way or create threats for our country and our people, they must know that Russia will respond immediately,” the Kremlin leader had declared.

“And the consequences will be such as you have never seen in your entire history.”"

- BBC

There is no worse outcome for the West than to see Ukraine loose because what comes after that is infinitely worse than anything Putin can do if another one of his red lines is crossed.


Thursday, September 05, 2024

All Kinksters Have a Target On Their Back: Never Normal Strikes Again

Tonight's programme? Bashing kinksters for profit [or personal gain].

Even a well-made series like The Umbrella Academy cannot resist a stab at kink. "Nothing wrong with a good spanking" says the creepy guy at the beginning of season four. Is it really that important us kinksters are being considered normal? What's normal anyway?

Personally I believe being normal has a lot to do with going after what you really want in life, even if other people don't understand. There is only one person responsible for your happiness and it's you, so you better get up and get greedy.

Dutch likes DIY, blogging and kink just to name a couple of things. Nobody ever asked me why I choose to spend hours in my shop rather than on social media. Is it even relevant what other people think? All that matters is that your personal preferences don't become a hindrance in life, which usually means worship privacy with vigor. Wouldn't it be great if I could say I love to worship my Love and mistress and people would just say good for you, as if you were telling them you decided on Thai food tonight. Never gonna happen. Pointing out the differences between people and proclaiming their way of life is superior will always benefit someone or some corporation. [1] [3]

Anyway, after my shocking discovery there's a sex dungeon in the basement of the Ghostbusters building or something like that, let's get the truth out. #NeverNormal is everywhere, just look at your TV. Below a list of TV shows and movies I've seen recently that one way or another manage to sneak in a little kink. Hardly ever neutral, sometimes for entertainment purposes only but mostly to placate the audience, making them feeling secure as in 'I'm normal, they are freaks. Just look at them'. Kinksters - yes you too - are cannon fodder at best. Sorry. 

1. The Boys
In an alternative superheroes have gone rogue. The Boys is one of my favourite series. Currently at season four and for no reason the female CEO of evil corp Vought walks in to her office and asks who wants to have their balls crushed. Young, bound, naked male on the floor squaks 'me please'. So lame. Whatever. 

2.Kleo
One of the most fun shows to watch recently. The main character is a young girl, a killer trained by the government of East Germany. She becomes the sacrificial scapegoat when things go wrong and wastes her youth in prison untill the Berlin Wall falls in 1989. No longer an enemy of a state that has simply vanished, Kleo is released and goes full rampage.

According to Kleo-lore the blonde gentleman on the left is the inventor of the Berlin love parade.
In the hands of a sadistic killer, that gag is not for fun.

3. You
A twisted and bizarre homicidal maniac with a love of books, who carries his clear glass dungeon with him all over the United States. At least two references to BDSM, both are equally weird in case you're wondering. 

look at the titles on hte book shelf.
Look at those titles on the book shelf.

4. Ballerina
A movie that is somewhat different. The main character, who has a day job as a highly trained dancer, seeks vengeance on those who killed her friend. A group of men obduct women to torture them on camera and sell the footage. Nasty. Honestly I think there are easier ways for criminals to make money. What motivated the script writer to pick this angle?

5. Zombie 100
In a post I wrote some 11 years ago - give or take - I wrote about a dreaming of a trip around the world in 80 dommes. Maybe I should update that post. Ever since the Living Dead, zombies have turned into cuddly toys. But what if the end is inevitable and you still have your bucket list with 100 things to cross of before you die? First order of business is to save your friend who is holed up in a Japanese love hotel. Less fortunate is that his slave girl has turned into a zombie. Of the disobedient kind. Luckily for him, she is tied up or else. Once again, why choose BDSM as a topic? 

6. Dix Pourcent
In English the show is named Call My Agent. The French series ran for four seasons and is an absolute gem. In some episode one of the management assistents [who sleeps with her boss of course] wears a neck corset. Rather surprisingly it is some kind of turn on for the male, gay assistent. Didn't see that coming. It's funny. 

7. The Violence Action
More daft than funny is this Japanese movie. Makes little sense but OK. In The Violence Action a couple of female students moonlight as assassins. Somewhere at the start of the movie one of them is sent out to rescue a young woman from a bunch of bad, non-consensual, sadistic men. After a succesful mission, she returns to base with Japanese Elvis, her sidekick. His reward for helping out? Being trampled by another woman. Whatever. 

8. Obliterated
This series makes even less sense than The Violence Action. To say its pulp is to overrate it. Yet surprisingly it's also one of few programs in this list where kink has a purpose. In order not to get exposed as a spy, an attractive young woman puts on a gag and then locks herself to a pole. So vulnerable [and almost naked] the pretty girl has to be innocent, right?

9. Dogs of Berlin
"Two cops investigate the murder of a famous Turkish-German soccer player." When a corrupt football official flees to Chile, a lawyer is sent after him. She is also a hardcore fixer who has no qualms torturing men to get answers. Her methods though are overly complicated. He is tied to the floor and she is putting on her stiletto heels to trample him. A silly conversation ensues:

"Give it to me. Other have to pay for it, I get I for free."
"Others have to pay for it, yes. But they have a safe word."

That's why we kinksters never gonna be normal. Guard your privacy with vigilance.

10. Blue Eye Samurai
This anime series is perhaps the best show I've seen of late, its story telling is beyond breathtaking. During Japan's Edo period (17th century), Mizu is on a quest for vengeance against four white men. In one episode Mizu enters a brothel where everything is possible. The episode also includes BDSM scenes, only this time in a more neutral way.

11. The Killer
And finally number 11. My film loving friends were eagerly awaiting David Fincher's latest 'gem' to arrive on Netflix. It did so I watched it. Don't believe the hype. The opening scene shows our killer eying a man visiting a professional dominatrix. The hitman explains how patience is of the essence. After much talk he slowly pulls the trigger. And hits the dominatrix instead. The cinematography is beautiful but once again, why this setting?

The above is just a selection of the theme of BDSM popping up in series and movies. Other than shock value - look at them freaks - there is hardly any justification for it, so remember we may be living the life we want but that doesn't mean the world will ever accept us. Public or private? It's your choice. Choose wisely.


Face the Music

Jackie Wilson - Reet Petite

Currently watching Kaos on Netflix. Yet another alternate universe, one where Jeff Goldblum rules as the Greek god Zeus. The series soundtrack is expensive, diverse, wide and impressive but above all excellent. In one episode, perfectly timed but completely out of tune, Jacky Wilson's Reet Petite starts playing. It just made me laugh so hard. Makes absolutely no sense or does it? Brilliant.

Jackie Wilson - Reet Petite [click to listen]


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Russian missiles target Kyiv on first day of school year according to the BBC.

"Russia has fired a barrage of missiles at Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, hours before thousands of children returned to school for the first day of the academic year." 


Notes

[1] Just my opinion but remember opinions are not facts. [2]

[2] A fact for sure.

[3] Also one of the reasons racism is so very hard to fight. Wanna know why, just look at who profits.

[4] Season four of The Boys came out recently [summer of 2024]. Stop reading if you haven't seen it yet.

Honestly I feel season four was one big mess, shock value was maxed up. The whole series was one big gore fest. One episode for the most part plays in a sex dungeon. It's just bizarre and not in a good way. Of course it had a gimp, Pulp Fiction style. It also features a buttler, equipped with a hose and dressed like somebody who works in a slaughterhouse. And of course there is the compulsary rich weirdo, just like the freaky executive. And in case you didn't get the message, hardcore non-non-consensual is the new consent. Because [in an alternative universe] those with money can get away with murder. The whole episode is truly horrible.


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