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Book Review: The Ultimate Guide to Kink: BDSM, Role Play and the Erotic Edge

2012 - 04.26

Tags: BDSM, bondage, D/s, Daddy, Domination, Education, fantasies, fisting, flogging, inspiration, kink, kinky, masochism, psychology, role play, Sadism, Sex, Submission, taboo
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The Ultimate Guide to Kink: BDSM, Role Play and the Erotic Edge. Edited by Tristan Taormino. Published by Cleis Press. Available in paperback and Kindle editions.

The Blurb: The Ultimate Guide to Kink is the first major guide to BDSM in a generation—a bold and sexy collection of essays that run the gamut from expert how-to tutorials to provocative essays that delve into complex questions about desire, power, and pleasure. The book brings together diverse voices from the kink community in an unprecedented way: each chapter is written by a different sexuality/BDSM educator. Divided into two sections, the first section features thorough, thoughtful pieces—on everything from flogging to bondage—packed with techniques and beautifully illustrated with original images from artist Katie Diamond. The second section is dedicated to role-playing fantasies and personal manifestos. From age play to masochism, these chapters cover some of the edgiest, most taboo and controversial elements of kink in depth. The Ultimate Guide to Kink features the expertise of renowned educators writing passionately on their favorite subjects, including Patrick Califia, Midori, Laura Antoniou, Barbara Carrellas, Lee Harrington, Jack Rinella, Lolita Wolf, Madison Young, Hardy Haberman, Felice Shays, Ignacio Rivera, Sarah Sloane, Mollena Williams, FifthAngel, and Edge. It will educate, inspire, and challenge both newcomers to the world of kink and experienced BDSM players.

The Cover: A collage of the typical images that come to mind when you think of the word “kink” — black leather boots, chains, and lace-up pants. Three of the four images depict human hands — because our hands are the best and most easily available sex toys. The perfect way to elicit the right mood in the reader, get us into the right “headspace” to enjoy the book. (more…)

Erotic Romance Author K D Grace Shares How Getting Dirty In Her Garden Inspired Surrogates, Her Latest Book

2012 - 04.25

Tags: Erotic romance, erotica, K.D. Grace, romance, Surrogates
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When I was fifteen my parents moved us to a farm in rural Missouri, and they had a massive veg garden. I reckon they could have fed half of the state of Missouri from it. They probably would have needed hired help to tend it if they hadn’t had a freebie in me! At first, I hated it. Every morning during the summer, my mother dragged me out of bed at 5:30 a.m. to weed or plant or harvest, or whatever needed to be done that day. By 9 a.m. in the morning it was scorching outside with the humidity hanging somewhere in the neighbourhood of 80%. By that time we were out of the veg patch, drinking iced tea on the front porch in the porch swing while we snapped beans of hulled peas. Does this sound like “American Gothic” or what? And I can tell you after getting up at the crack of dawn and digging in the dirt, I knew exactly why the couple in that painting were NOT smiling. Of course, I was fifteen, and I was the epitome of a surly teenager, so hard put-upon by parents and circumstances that it’s a wonder I survived to adulthood.

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God Hates the World, Or So Says One Of the Most Vile Human Beings To Ever Roam The Earth

2012 - 04.10

Tags: fearmongering, Fred Phelps, funerals, hatred, protests, Western Baptist Church
Posted in Culture, News, Opinions | No Comments »

If you don’t know who Fred Phelps is and aren’t aware of the Westboro Baptist Church, you should be. If only as a lesson of how abominable pure and irrational hatred can be.

If you heard of the group “protesting” at soldiers’ funerals, then you know who they are. Here is a list of website links directly from their webiste (we’re not making this up, people): (more…)

How to Make a Caipirinha (Brazilian drink)

2012 - 03.29

Tags: Brazil, caipirinha, drink, food, Kristen Knight, South Beach
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I had the pleasure of meeting Kristen Knight, bartender at SUSHISAMBA in South Beach, Florida. Knight is also a recording and performing artist and she was gracious enough to let me film her making the caipirinha so that Ark’s readers could learn how to make this signature Brazilian cocktail. Enjoy!

Recipe:

Cachaça (1½ ounces)

Freshly muddled lime (5 pieces)

Sugar (2 tablespoons)

Ice

Luscious: Stories of Anal Eroticism (Book Review)

2012 - 03.23

Tags: Alison Tyler, anal sex, BDSM, eroticism, Luscious, Sex, transgender, Tristan Taormino
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Luscious: Stories of Anal Eroticism. Edited by Alison Tyler. Foreword by Tristan Taormino. Published by Cleis Press. Available in paperback and Kindle editions.

Book Blurb: “When I pick up a book of erotica,” says Alison Tyler, “I don’t want to read about ‘beautiful’ and ‘loving.’ I want to read about sweaty and heart-stopping.” Tyler indeed found these latter qualities, in a wealth of variations, when she collected the 27 stories for this smart, raunchy anthology celebrating anal sex. Seasoned erotica authors explore the pleasures of fingers and tongues, real cocks and silicone phalluses, beads and vibrators, and every imaginable strategy for indulging in this popular but still taboo sexual activity. With feather-light foreplay and the grand slam, tickling and teasing and fisting, Luscious reminds us that “dirty” is not only not a bad word, it can make what happens bent over a Harley, on the Appalachian trail, or in an anal sex classroom — some of the kinky locales in this collection — irresistibly arousing.

The Cover is…mouth-watering, the definition of the first word in this collection’s title: luscious. The hourglass figure seems unequivocally female, as does the long hair that hangs down the back of the model and can be glimpsed against the light. And yet is still completely androgynous, because the backside of a human being can be deceptive. The grayscale of the photo makes a beautiful background to the red font of the title. Enchanting and evocative.

If you usually skip the foreword, don’t. Tristan Taormino’s is a work of art. So is the introduction by Alison Tyler. Reading this book makes me feel like I’m in good company. #wink (more…)

Kick Start My Art: Concept To Turn Abandoned Theme Park Into Public Art Project

2012 - 03.22

Tags: agustina woodgate, art, art basel, Kickstarter, kulturpark, spinello gallery, spinello projects
Posted in Culture, News | No Comments »

Kickstarter. You either think it’s brilliant or yet another means through which artists can continue to shamelessly whore themselves out. #guilty

Or maybe you don’t even know what Kickstarter is. It’s a website which allows you to “fund & follow creativity.” That means that as an artist, you can post a concept and proposed budget and as a philanthropist, you can donate to such projects.

Either way, we were alerted to one Kickstarter project that we feel deserves funding. Why? Because an abandoned theme park cum public art project would be uber sensational in our not so humble opinion.

The project is being spearheaded by Art Basel darlings Agustina Woodgate and Anthony Spinello of Spinello Projects. They’re only asking for a total of $25,000, which we think is a bargain for a project of such magnitude.

Click here for more information on Kulturpark, the intended project. There’s even a video (ooh, ahh).

We only see one downside — the abandoned theme park is in Europe. Don’t they have enough kulture over there already?

SPOT ON: Motown, ’70s, Funk, and Feelgood.

2012 - 02.23

Tags: 70's, Aretha Franklin, Arketipo 187, Diana Ross, DJ Maximus 3000, Edwin Starr, Freda Payne, funk, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Isaac Hayes, Jackson 5, James Brown, Motown, playlist, Rare Earth, Sly and the family stone, Spot on, Spotify, Stevie Wonder, War
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It’s February and love is in the air (chemical or otherwise). Spring is around the corner and people are feeling great!

Here’s a little playlist of tracks that always get me going. I love funk and Motown, Jackie Brown meets Crooklyn. There’s a reason they call it feel-good music! There’s a bit of rock in here and lots of tambourines.

Some of the artists featured are Edwin Starr, Freda Payne, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Jackson 5, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Isaac Hayes, Rare Earth, James Brown, War, Sly and the family stone, and Stevie Wonder.

As always, you can share, interact with, and repost these playlists as much as you like. You can even access them right on your smartphone and I will be adding more and more content to each of these playlists week after week, so make sure you come back to check them out often.

Look out for an upcoming “Max Pix” and more interviews with some great indie artists.

Enjoy!

CLICK HERE FOR ACCESS to my Motown, 70′s, Funk playlist. Make sure to subscribe!

Other lists:

Updated my Electronica playlist: CLICK HERE FOR ACCESS

Also updated my Grunge 90′s Rock Playlist with some new content: CLICK HERE FOR ACCESS

Dont forget to check out my Old school Hip Hop and R&B playlist: CLICK HERE FOR ACCESS

Alex Ferbeyre (DJ Maximus 3000)

Alex Ferbeyre pka DJ Maximus 3000, is a chart topping producer, remixer, DJ, and founder/owner of the record label 8025 Alliance Music Group. DJ Maximus 3000 is also an experimental artist who has been working in the music industry since 1995. He has a background in music theory, journalism, and marketing and is the music editor of Arketipo 187 Magazine. Follow Ferbeyre on Twitter and Facebook or email him at max@arketipo187.com.

Book Review: Silk by Rupert James

2012 - 02.22

Tags: drugs, fashion industry, gay characters, infidelity, jealousy, Mafia, movies, murder, Rupert James, Sex, Silk
Posted in Culture | 1 Comment »

Managing a plot with more twists and turns than Lombard Street in San Francisco, Rupert James keeps the pace steady and sure while advancing the characters through their development. The writing is superb in Silk; it makes the reader feel like an invisible observer who gets to participate in all the exciting parts, too.

Because it’s set in England, there are some concepts that puzzled me, like becoming Queen’s Counsel for a barrister. Never fear, Wikipedia to the rescue! Other than that, everything else translates fairly easily to American life.

The story takes the reader on a ride of celebrity lifestyles in fashion, movies, and even the criminal underworld. From the beginning you know things are going to get very bad, it’s inevitable, but what you don’t know is exactly how it’s going to happen and if only one character will be the culprit or if they will all have a hand in the crisis. Brilliantly done, Mr. James!

The Characters: Victoria and Christine dominate the action, with Isabelle being more of a catalyst for their actions. Joel was the perfect foil to all the people he interacted with in the novel, and let me tell you, most everybody dipped their quill in this guy. Massimo is as fascinating as he is disgusting. The one who won my heart from the start, of course being the fruit fly that I am, was Will. He’s Isabelle’s business partner and as gay as they come. Slutty, funny, and a true best friend. I loved him!

Overall: With a mix of sex in all its variety, professional and emotional jealousy, rampant infidelity, drugs all over the place, and yes, murder, all in a rollercoaster ride of a read, Silk is a book you will not want to put down. Move over The Devil Wears Prada. Look out, fans of Judith Krantz and Jackie Collins, Rupert James has joined the party.

And it’s going to be lots of fun with him here!

I am a happily married to my soul mate and have four daughters of the heart and body. God has also seen fit to reward me, through my gorgeous daughters and their loving husbands, with five beautiful grandkids. I am terminally addicted to reading, will read anywhere, everywhere. My Kindle goes with me wherever I go, though I might leave everything else behind. I am also an avid supporter of gay rights, which translates to human rights. God made me heterosexual, just like He made me with dark hair and eye color. I firmly believe that God does not make mistakes, that He made each of us as we are, and gave us life to live in this world of ours with the express purpose of allowing us the privilege to love. He also gave us diversity, to make life interesting, to learn from all those who cross our path and grow accordingly. My passions are many, my vices few, and I find every single minute of this ride we call life an exhilarating challenge that I cannot wait to meet. Got questions, concerns, issues or emotional outbursts you want to share with me? By all means, email me at: viv.santos@arketipo187.com. Or just drop me a line to say hello!

Film Review: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

2012 - 02.14

Tags: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, film, review, sandra bullock, thomas horn, tom hanks
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This is not your typical Tom Hanks or Sandra Bullock movie. Though Bullock and Hanks both play roles integral to the story, neither of them are the stars. However, I must say, she’s come a long way since cyber-sexing Sly Stallone in Demolition Man.

These two Hollywood favorites play the parents of the film’s true star, 14-year-old Thomas Horn. In his first major role Horn plays Oskar Schell, a quirky 9-year-old boy whose father died in the World Trade Center.

Oskar is a “special child” who had a very close relationship with his father. He believes that his dad left a special mission for him to accomplish. What you’ll witness is a little boy’s journey towards finding purpose and meaning in his father’s death and facing his own fears on the poignant journey.

At first, Oskar may be a bit difficult to warm up to, but as the scenes play on, you feel compelled to root for the kid as he struggles to accomplish his ‘mission.’ The script provides several plot twists that serve to hold your attention and play with your emotions.

Director Stephen Daldry does a masterful job of reconnecting the viewer to the pain and suffering caused by that fateful event and uses the tragedy as a backdrop for this particular story to unfold. The shots of New York City are breathtaking and the casting is nothing short of superb.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close works as a visceral roller coaster which reminds us of the gamut of emotions we all felt for months after 9/11.

Guys, if you screwed up this Valentine’s Day this movie offers a second chance. Show her your sensitive side — take her to watch this movie. You’ll need some Kleenex before this one is over. You have been warned.

George Gonzalez is the son of the late artist, Joe Gonzalez. This self-proclaimed thinker of thoughts is Cuban-American to the core, and proud of it. Armed with a Master’s in Psychology from Florida International University, he practices as a therapist and group counselor, and also teaches Psychology as an adjunct professor at Miami-Dade College. He is currently revising his memoirs, The Year My Heroes Died, which is expected to be published later this year. When he is not writing and drinking coffee at Starbucks or Barnes and Noble, where he is known by many baristas on a first name basis, he is exercising, playing golf, reading, appreciating the arts, roaming the world, critiquing films or attending live performances of any kind.

SPOT ON: Electronica

2012 - 02.08

Tags: Ambient, Apollo 440, Arketipo 187, Avicii, Big Beat, Cassius, Chemical Brothers, Cut Copy, Daft Punk, Deee-lite, Deep House, DJ Maximus 3000, Dub, Electro, Electronic, Energy 52, French House, Ink Project, Josh Riptide, Keoki, Leftfield, Massive Attack, Orbital, Paul Van Dyk, Penguin Prison, playlist, Remix projects, Robert Miles, Spot on, Spotify, Trip Hop, Union Jack, X-Press 2
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This is by far going to be my most broad-and-thorough playlist on Spotify. There are very few subgenres and fusion genres that I don’t get into. This particular playlist features everything from ambient, dub, French house, deep house, electro, electronic, big beat, trip-hop, remix projects, and more.

Some of the artists featured are Paul Van Dyk, Daft Punk, Chemical Brothers, X-Press 2, Apollo 440, Avicii, Union Jack, Energy 52, Keoki, Robert Miles, Cassius, Cut Copy, Penguin Prison, Ink Project, Josh Riptide, Deee-Lite, Orbital, Leftfield, Massive Attack, and much more.