Inside Chantal

My yang month

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 14:51:00 +0100

Right... As I wrote to a friend already, in my yang month December a lot of ying is missing... Let's start at the beginning, the beginning of December 2008.

First the contract (I'm a contracter) for my daytime job got cancelled (The economical crisis is everywhere) and it's very dificult to find a new project in December (end of the budget year). On the upside, this leaves me with some extra time to work on (Club)RopeMarks.

Next my phone decided to buy a one-way ticket to mobile-heaven, so I had to quickly decide if wanted to buy that way too expensive phone I had my eye on for some time already... I did :). My Outlook was synchronized in a breeze and I spend the next days figuring out how to actually make a phone call on the mobile-PHONE that I got :)

Time for RopeMarks... uhm, it would have been time for RopeMarks if my computer didn't make the brilliant decision to follow my mobile phone to heaven (taking a left to computer-heaven where my mobile went right to mobile-heaven). Luckily the computer didn't break down completely so I had time to bring my backups up-to-date. I keep two backups on external hard disks and I have a total of 4TB in external hard disks.

So, while I made sure my backups are up-to-date I was figuring out what should be under the hood of my new machine. For those technically interested I decided on a Dell Precision T7400 with some custom changes/additions (i.e. faster CPU, more memory, more hard disk space) running Windows Vista (32bit).

Delivering the machine would take a few days but before that we had a long weekend in Paris (the Nuit Demonia weekend), a few days after our return my shiny new machine was delivered, oh happy day, I could quickly set everything up and start giving you the you the new updates.

Since I have 4TB of external hard disk space holding two backups of our data and extending my internal hard disk space to about 1TB, I thought it was a good idea to do some overdue maintenance on these disks and get everything neatly ordered for the years to come. Now here I discoverd (one of) the nasty parts of Vista; copying from external hard disk to another external hard disk takes _ages_. Moving 1TB takes about 2 days!

On top of taking a long time you have babysit this type of action because of the annoying Vista UAC (User Account Control) and the "improved" rights management. One example (I have so many :( ) is that moving, say, 1 GB is calculated at, say, 1 hour. You are bother with the UAC, wait one hour and the result is that only, say, 60% has been moved. So you move the remaining 40%, calculated at, say, 20 minutes, are bothered with the UAC, wait 20 minutes and... nothing has been moved! Certain files are simply not moved by Vista.

Anyway, after a few days of moving files around (thanks Bill!) and searching the web I installed the program TeraCopy. It was a recommendation on different forums and I have to say, it works like a charm! Moving terra bytes of data still takes a long time but it works and I don't have to babysit the action

Finally, all my data moved and roughly reorganised the way I want it. Time to setup the new backup... if only, at that moment, one of my external hard disk did NOT decide to fail on me @^$_&@_(*@!#$&*^_@)$(%. Ofcourse (hi Murphy!) this was the disk with the backup of ALL RopeMarks material (photo's, video's, text, the works) #$%)(!#%^_%_)*@#$... If you're still reading this (with more than mediocre focus :) you know I have two backups, so no real harm done yet but should my other disk bail out on me RopeMarks would be in serious trouble. Hopped on my bike (as if :):):), took the car :) and bought a new 2TB disk for my backups.

During all this moving, copying, cursing Bill and babysitting we have had an upgrade of our webserver machine. This upgrade happened on 22 December between 22:00 and 09:00. You might have experienced some downtime.

So, the current status is that I'm still moving stuff to my new external hard disk. This should be finished within 6 hours (according to TeraCopy's calculations). While the copy/move process is going on I'm unable to use any other USB hardware connected to my machine (i.e. memory card reader) or my firewire port (i.e. capturing video), this will screw up the copy/move process on my external USB hard disks (Bill?!?) . During the failure of my old computer and external hard disk I know I lost e-mail. If you've send me mail and do not receive a reply in the next week orso please resend your mail.

I hope to be productive again during next week.

Everybody all the best wishes for 2009!

The Beauty of Kinbaku by Master "K"

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 12:11:00 +0100

There have already been a number of reviews about Master "K"'s second book on the different forums. All praise, mine is no different, here goes.

Master "K"'s second book has been in my possession for some time now but a current hardware issue with my computer stopped me from doing anything useful with the machine or go online for that matter.

The first thing you notice about the book is the packaging, you can't get around that. The second thing I noticed is the "little piece of paper that you put in the book to mark the page where you are reading it" (I don't know the English word for this.. come to think of it, I don't even know the Dutch word for this :). Both things, to me, are a sign and tell me the book is made with details in mind and a lot of love, made for those who appreciate and want to learn more about the subject of kinbaku.

When you first browse through the book, read some paragraphs about the

(cultural) history, the key-figures, look at the gallery, browse the glossary, the how-to's you feel, know, that you are holding a pearl a wisdom.

Reading through the book is, well, amazing. For me personally the book contains information I was familiar with, BUT (a big _but_), the book completed the information in more ways than I could ever expect, added facts, details, timelines, connections to other pieces of information and history. Master "K" has an extensive library and network to retrieve his information from and it was definitely put to good use for this book. As you expect when you browsed through the book you now know for sure, the book is a pearl of wisdom.

So far it is all good. But is it all good, no there will always be things that are missing, different things by different people, "one- liners" in the text that you know could fill an entire book completely, key-figures that you might expect but are not there, specific descriptions in the glossary that might not agree with you, photo's in the glossary the you feel could be better photographed or tied. But is that bad? No! Actually that is very good imvho. This is Master "K"'s book, a book about the beauty of kinbaku researched by Master "K", a very personal book with an enormous amount of information and insight he is willing to share with you. This is not some loose little article on the topic of kinbaku you can find everywhere on the web, this is well written book, based on well- researched facts. A book I think that has been "demanded" by the scene for years and Master "K" listened and created this book.

The book might not be cheap but compared to books of the same quality it is priced according to market (at least for Dutch standards).

Comparing the quality is the only comparison I can make because there is no other English language book like this and that makes the value of the book a lot higher than the price you pay.

My conclusion, this is not a "nice-to-have" book, or a "I go along with the buzz of Japanese bondage" book, if you are truly serious about knowing more about the history of Japanese bondage as we now know it this book is a must have!

Oh and by the way, me liking the book has nothing to do with the fact that Chantal appears in the gallery section of the book, page 100...

But really it has nothing to do with it (Page 100 of the gallery, go check! :)

the links: The Beauty of Kinbaku.

Ho Ho Ho....

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 08:29:00 +0100

From us at RopeMarks

### http://www.ropemarks.com/xmas/ ###

we wish you a merry xmas, a happy new year and may all your wishes for the next year come true.

Bob & Chantal
http://www.RopeMarks.com

BNN's Spuiten en Slikken

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 13:23:00 +0100

Here's something new, BNN (the Dutch television network aiming at the younger generation) will be filming for their "Spuiten en Slikken" program an item (kutvragen en klotebrieven) that will feature Chantal, our own Dutch Bondage Diva, talking about bondage.

We'll let you know when it will be aired on Dutch TV

the links: BNN, Spuiten en Slikken.

Recognition rules!

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 21:30:00 +0100

It is always... enjoyable to be recognized, thanx guys (any girls?)!

DVD - A Study in Red

Fri, 23 May 2008 17:20:00 +0100

Our first DVD is available again.

With the move to a new house and other stuff we finally have a new batch of DVD's available for you again.

To the DVD - RopeMarks; A Study in Red

The butterfly effect

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 07:22:00 +0100

The butterfly effect refers to the idea that a butterfly's wings might create tiny changes in the atmosphere that ultimately cause a tornado to appear (or prevent a tornado from appearing). The flapping wing represents a small change in the initial condition of the system, which causes a chain of events leading to large-scale phenomena. Had the butterfly not flapped its wings, the trajectory of the system might have been vastly different.

Cute girls

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:54:00 +0100

Just some snapshots of me and Miss Marjana at the party of Mrs. Manita and me at the beginning of my first ever self suspension show...

Mickey

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 20:56:00 +0100

Mickey

(hele kleine fluf)

* 10 May 1990
† 3 March 2008 18:30

Amsterdam Fashion Week at the ABC Treehouse

Mon, 07 Jan 2008 21:29:00 +0100

Ropemarks
23 January 2008, 8PM
At the ABC Treehouse
Voetboogstraat 11, 1012XK Amsterdam

Fashion: Any mode of dressing or adornment that is popular during a particular time or in a particular place… It serves as a reflection of social and economic status…” - Mirriam-Webster

Fetish: a form of sexual desire in which gratification is focused abnormally on an object, part of the body, or activity. A course of action to which one has an excessive and irrational commitment. - Oxford English Dictionary

Japanese Bondage: aka Shibari (しばり|, Shibari). Literally "to tie" or "to bind", aka Kinbaku (緊縛|, Kinbaku) "bondage", or Kinbaku-bi "beautiful bondage". Kinbaku is a erotic Japanese style of bondage which involves tying up a person using visually intricate patterns. - RopeMarks

On 23 January 2008, 8PM The ABC Treehouse celebrates Fashion Week’s edgier themes with a special presentation by RopeMarks, famous for their expertise with Japanese Rope Bondage, and for emphasizing the beauty and eroticism of this classic art form.

RopeMarks will demonstrate that, using their techniques, any woman can be transformed into a beautiful fetish fashion model. A second demonstration will emphasize the beauty of classic Japanese rope bondage, an art form that can be traced as far back as the middle ages.

RopeMarks is Bob and Chantal, a lifestyle couple from Amsterdam, the Netherlands. They have specialized in Japanese bondage (a.k.a. Shibari, Kinbaku or Kinbaku-bi) through self-study and follow up study in Akechi ryu in the land of the rising sun (Japan). Their specialization was born out of passion; a passion for each other, a passion for Kinbaku and a passion for the bound female form in all its artistic and erotic glory. Their work is heavily rooted in medieval 17th century Japan.

Their Kinbaku has been featured several times on Dutch national and international television. National and international, fetish, media (printed or otherwise) from around the globe (from Europe to Japan) is regularly in contact with them for interviews, use of material or bookings for photo shoot or film opportunities. Their artistry in Japanese rope is considered among the best in the worldwide scene and ranks number one in what the Netherlands has to offer.

The ABC Treehouse presents – and supports the efforts of others to present - artistic, literary, and political projects which nurture dialogue and cooperation within the Dutch and multicultural community. It is a not-for-profit project of The American Book Center (www.abc.nl) one of the largest sources of American (and British) language books on continental Europe.

What: RopeMarks
When: 23 January 2008, 8PM
Where: At The ABC Treehouse (Voetboogstraat 11, Amsterdam), near the Spuiplein
Reservations: treehouse@abc.nl

For More Information: www.treehouse.abc.nl; www.ropemarks.nl

RopeMarks goes USA!

Tue, 17 Jul 2007 21:34:00 +0100

In August-September 2007 we will be in California.

Joost

Sat, 10 Feb 2007 11:28:00 +0100

De storm is gaan liggen...

* 12 mei 1962
† 2 februari 2007

No reason

Tue, 19 Dec 2006 17:46:00 +0100

Xmas

Mon, 11 Dec 2006 21:45:00 +0100

And see here; our whole website in Christmas style!

Going places

Wed, 06 Dec 2006 21:13:00 +0100

Finally I am on My Space (English) and on Hyves (Dutch).

Check it out!

RopeMarks @ Kamasutra

Thu, 21 Sep 2006 20:59:00 +0100

Always wanted to see us in real life, doing bondage or just to talk to us?

As from tomorrow, Friday 21 September, until Sunday, we have our own stand on the Kamasutra erotic fair in Utrecht, The Netherlands (Kamasutrabeurs).

We also give a few small workshops on Saturday and Sunday.

We love to meet you, so do not hesitate to approach us!

BoundCon III

Mon, 17 Jul 2006 10:55:00 +0100

BoundCon (Munchen, Germany) a three day fetish and bondage extravagance is starting in a few days (Jul. 21-23). We're there for the for the whole fair. If you want to see us perform live or finally like a change to say hi, come meet us in our stand!

More shibari by RopeMarks on Dutch national tv.

Sat, 06 May 2006 22:15:00 +0100

We will be on television again, Saturday 13 May at 20:20 on Dutch television (Veronica) we will be in the programm "Bizar & Bijzonder" (Bizar and Extraordinary). The rerun is on Monday 15 May at 23:10 same channel.

More RopeMarks on Dutch national tv.

Fri, 28 Apr 2006 08:55:00 +0100

Is it possible that our Dutch national TV network is picking up on our oh so beloved shibari? We have been approached by the people of the Dutch TV program "Bizar & Bijzonder" (Bizar and Extraordinary) if we are interested in participating. We had some e-mail exchange, watched a few episodes and had a real/live meeting about the subject. We decided to participate. Today we are being filmed and it should air in about 2 weeks. When we know more we'll post it here.