Greetings from New Jersey,

Hi Everyone. Wow, to answer your question, yes I am still having problems with random truncations on zip file downloads. I still do not have a problem with downloads of windows media player video files. As I explained on one of my postings, it seems like I can correct, or nearly correct, the problem by turning off my firewall program and lowering the security settings on my version of Windows. I’d rather not do that. But given that if the file download truncates on me it always does it in the first second or two of the download then I know imediately if it failed or not without having to open the zip file. It really is not a problem for me. I just restart the download and it has always gone through cleanly at that point. So at the most if might cost me ten seconds of extra time to do the download. That’s not worth anyone taking a lot of time to try to track down exactly what the interaction between all the servers and all their software, my PC and all its software and the unknown number of systems and software it takes to get from the servers to my PC. If there were a number of other people that had the same issue than I might ask for some help but since it pretty much seems to be just me (yeah figures….) and it is such a minor deal for me to work around it, it is not worth spending anymore time on.

Cheers and all the best,

Jeff

Greetings from New Jersey,

Just a short note of comment on the December previews. As the members have come to expect from the wonderful RE production team, this month shows a nice cross section of old and new sets, indoor and outdoor locations, metal and leather and rope restraints, clothing or the lack there of and variety in the clothing as well as a variety in the attitude of the ladies.

The single glove strappado with Sammie B is definately something a bit different. The photo of Foxy in the black and white dress is a nice variation on a hogtie. Some nice outdoor shots with Ariel, Pling and Belle. Several lovely satin gowns. The shot with Christina in the black dress with the chain getting locked onto her collar looks like it could be very interesting. A couple of medieval gowns. A nice older set with Sabrina. And so on…..

While I agree the previews show somewhat of a lack of stockings (I don’t have strong feelings for or against stockings) and chinese dresses (love them), keep in mind that there are about 50 photos shown in the preview. RE does at least three updates every day so for December that is a minimum of 93 updates. Who knows what’s hiding out there in the other 43 odd sets?????????

Cheers and all the best everyone,

Jeff

Greetings from New Jersey,

Hi everyone.

Hywel Posted:

( Hywel looks guilty…)

We shot that set of Kate and Ariel in the same dress at the last shoot in the old studio… back in January. I haven’t edited it yet. I’ve just finished December’s sets, I’ll get it ready for January.

Cheers, Hywel.

Nothing to feel guilty about sir between finding and buying the new studio / house, cleaning out the old studio and moving everything, all the home improvement work (including the blood split), getting food poisoning, the planning for and taking a couple of location trips to shoot, not to mention all the daily time on the computer to maintain the site. I just remember several posts about the possibility of this set on the forum and it seemed like it could be very interesting and could spin off in a couple of different directions. It will be interesting to see which path you went down. Gives us another something to look forward to from RE in the New Year. Thanks for the update.

Cheers and best to all,

Jeff

Greetings from New Jersey,

Hi Hywel,

I’ve tried several combinations of downloads at this point and wanted to relate what I found. I downloaded the current version of the Firefox browser to my system and started by doing downloads of eight photo sets and four videos with Firefox and then with Internet Explorer (7). The results were done with my McAfee Firewall package running and were as follows:

The Firefox downloads were done with the security settings at the default settings that come with the package. Three photoset downloads failed with Firefox each with a file size of between 200 and 250KB. Each time I restarted download without deleting the truncated files and the second attempts completed normally. The downloads with Internet Explorer were done with the Security setting at Medium – High which is where I normally run it which does not cause similar problems on other sites. Four photoset downloads failed initially with Internet Explorer, each time with a file size of between 100 and 150KB. Two of the sets were ones that failed with Firefox but the other two completed normally with Firefox. Again, second attempts done without deleting the truncated file and all four completed normally.

I did not encounter any problems with downloading the videos with Internet Explorer but one video download terminated early (again with a file size of 200 – 250KB) with Firefox. Since I have not encountered problems with downloading video files with Internet Explorer I was a little surprised to encounter one with Firefox. This time I deleted the truncated file and started a second download of the video file and it completed normally.

Also using Firefox I started a 100MB video download and then did four successive photo set downloads (including the three that had previously failed with Firefox) as well as two successive video downloads (including the one that had previously failed) while the first video was still downloading and none of those additional six downloads failed. Of course the individual file download transfer rates slow down with multiple downloads in progress but the overall speed seems to remain the same. Not sure if that has any bearing on the transfer failures. As previously mentioned I have not encountered a problem with a file download truncating early in Internet Explorer if there is already another download in progress.

On another day I tried playing with the security settings as you suggested Hywel. Initially I stopped my firewall program and also turned the security setting on Internet Explorer down to medium (the lowest I can set it at). I again tried downloading eight photo set files. These were eight different sets than I had tried the other day. Two were only about 4 – 5 MB each and the others were in the 20 – 30 MB range. Nothing failed during the download process. I then tried downloading the same 8 files using Firefox without changing any of its security settings. Again nothing failed. In both cases I saw the file transfer progress box pop up and saw the progress of the transfers. The smaller files took about 12 seconds to download and the larger ones took about a minute to a minute and 15 seconds. I then turned the security on Internet Explorer back up to Medium – High and tried downloading the same eight sets again. The first one (one of the smaller files) failed with about 150KB transferred. The rest went through cleanly.

I had specified when I shut off my firewall program to re-activate it on system reboot so I rebooted my system at this point. When it had come back up and I confirmed that the firewall package was back running and I dropped the security settings on Internet Explorer from it’s normal Medium – High to Medium and tried downloading the same 8 files I had just been working with. This produced some very interesting results. When I have the security setting on Internet Explorer at Medium – High and I download a file, if it completes normally it generally takes about 90 seconds to download a 30MB file and I see the file transfer progress box pop up but if it fails it fails in 2 – 3 seconds and I never see the progress box. With the firewall package on but the Internet Explorer security lowered to Medium all the transfers were ending in 2 – 3 seconds with no pop up box but the file sizes matched what the full download file size should be. However, on opening the zip files, on some of them I found that a random percentage of the photos had actually not transferred. It seemed that around 40 – 60% of the photos had actually downloaded in the ones that truncated early. Three of the eight seemed to not fully transfer in this initial blast. This seems to be close to what Wow was seeing. When I set everything back to my normal settings, deleted the downloaded files and tried the eight files again I still had three of the downloads terminate early (not exactly the same three) but the ones that went through to completion had the file transfer box pop up and show the progress and go back to taking about 60 – 90 seconds depending on size. The three that failed (one smaller file and two of the larger ones) all failed in 2 – 3 seconds and I never saw the pop up box for file transfer.

As I had said previously I have not experienced problems downloading zip files from other sites so I’m not sure what causes the issue with the RE site. Clearly there is some sort of relationship between the browser security settings and the firewall package. I do not have an explanation for why there seems to be an initial transfer burst that blows out in some cases but contains something like half of the photos in the zip file and why it always seems to go through cleanly on the second transfer. Very odd to say the least. Clearly for me, with my normal way of downloading photo sets from RE I have a very clear indication that the transfer failed because it fails in 2 – 3 seconds so I just start the download a second time and it only “costs” me something like 5 seconds. No big deal in the grand scheme of things. Now in a situation like Wow’s where there does not seem to be any difference in the duration of the downloads that fail vs. the ones that complete and he has to check each individual zip file first and then download the corrupted ones a second time that wastes a lot more of his time than my situation does. His downloads may take less time than mine but it takes me less time to know if I have to download a file a second time. I also don’t know what, if any, firewall package he might be running. So far the only common element seems to be Windows XP but I don’t know what version if it he is running.

Speaking only for myself I certainly don’t want you to spend a lot of time on this issue because it seems like something specific to the interactions of probably a very limited and specific combination of OS, browser and its security settings and firewall security software and its options. If Surfnet comes back with anything then hey great, but I’ll just live with the minor quirk. The continuing quality of the photos and videos more than make up for it in the long run.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Jeff

Greetings from New Jersey,

Hi Everyone. Hywel, I also have experienced the truncated downloads that Wow has commentd on. It was most extensive previously but has reduced this year. I’m running Windows XP Pro, service pack three with Internet Explorer 7 as the browser and am using a DSL phone connection. Unfortunately I do not recall if I had this same problem when I was still on a dial up connection. I do, from time to time, download photo sets and videos from other sites and I very rarely have the truncation problem with those downloads.

One thing I can add is that I do not have the problem with the video files. It only seems to happen with the zip files for the photo sets. No clue why that would make a difference but the videos are never a problem for me. With the photo sets downloads the truncation always seems to happen very early on in the download process, generally in the first or second Mb. Once I get past the intial 3 – 5% of the download it nevers seems to fail. I have not been able to detect any pattern related to size of file or the like that might be an issue and it is not consistant as to how often the downlods get truncated.

One other quirk that I have noticed is that if I already have a download in progress from RE (video or photo set) and start a second download of a photo set, that second download never gets truncated.

It doesn’t really bother me since if it fails, it fails almost as soon as I start the download so I just restart it and the second time it always goes through fine.

Hope that is of some use to you.

Cheers,

Jeff

Greetings from New Jersey,

Hello everyone. I hope everyone is doing well. As always it seems like RE is bringing us yet another month full of high quality photos and videos. Looks like October will be another strong mix of new and old sets, rope and metal reqtraints, indoor and outsoor settings as well as nice wardrobes and lovely ladies. Gee…. works for me!

A couple of the ones I’ll be looking forward to will be the set with Ariel tied to the tree, Oksana in the SM Factory collar and cuffs, Lilith in red and black satin and Honey back again in that black satin and Ariel returning as the western Geisha and with the metal self bondage set. I’m really looking forward to the set with Sophia in the pool with the hair flip, the set with Paige in chains on the floor in front of Ariel looks very interesting and then there is that stunning photo of Ariel in the metal yoke in the dark with the light behind her.

Another great month so thanks to one and all in front of and behind the cameras.

Cheers,

Jeff

Greetings from New Jersey,

Hi Everyone. I just put up a post commenting on the site previews for September 2009. One of the sets that I mentioned that I would be looking for in particular was the set with Sammie B in the blue satin dress. That triggered a memory from an early forum thread, which turned out to be this one.
So I would like to pose a question to Hywel, Ariel and Temptress Kate. What ever happened to the notion on this thread of Ariel and Kate wearing the same dress and Ariel’s ensuing bondage at Kate’s hands (and perhaps Kate getting tied to Ariel in the end as well)? Any chance that this theme might make it into reality some day? Just wondering……
Best to everyone as always.

Cheers,

Jeff

Greetings from New Jersey,

Hi Ariel and everyone else. First, albeit a bit late, let me add my best wishes for getting over your injury and surgery as soon as possible. Very sorry to hear you had the mishap and that it was serious enough to require surgery which is never fun.

As far as what kind of Dom I prefer I would have to go with first the “Temporary Dom” and then the “Sensual Facilitator Domme.” I don’t have a problem with seeing a Dom on camera (stills or video) but I do prefer to have a cross section of sets/videos that show both the dom and sub as well as just the sub. I also have no issues with seeing either a male or a female dom on camera. I prefer variety (which RE is very good about).

I have little use for the “Angry Shouty Domme” and I agree with what several others have said in that if you are not in control of yourself then you can not be in control of someone else. This obviously could also cause significant problems if the dom has to somewhat loose control to get into a character and then have to do the rigging for the scenario. In that case the dom may well not be paying proper attention to the safety of the sub.

How well the “Situational Domme” comes off depends a lot on the strength of the story line. There are cases where I have much enjoyed such a set and also times where it fall completely flat. Of course if the bondage the “Situational Domme” rigs is garbage that will not help the set/video as well. I do not seem to recall the “Glady’s Blog” set with Kate that you mentioned Ariel so I can’t comment on how well it came off. If that is an RE set then who was in it besides Kate and when was it posted?

I know I am probably in the minority as far as RE members go but I really do not care for the “Sexual Sadist Domme” style of set or video. Cruelty is just not my thing. I prefer the more lighthearted and sexual. I just don’t find slapping, spanking, flogging, etc. a partner to be sexy but I will look at it from time to time. I have enjoyed some of Chant’s dom sets/videos, particularly the behind the scenes ones or the how to tie ones. Ones like the “Stocks in a Box” don’t bother me too much but ones like “the Interview from Hell” with you and Bianca or the “You’re in the Army Now” set with Jade go too far for my tastes. But RE is a community so you take a bit of what you might not like and you get a bit of what you do like. That works.

I definitely like the “Sensual Facilitator Domme” as done in “Swords and Sandals” or with you and Sophia in “Sophia’s Day Off”. Some of my favorite sets over the years (both at RE and from other sites) have used the general scenario of each lady taking her turn as both dom and sub. Since, by your own description Ariel, you are sub by nature then this form of dom should be easier for you to get into character for with regards to RE work than Chanta’s much more aggressive style. I would think it would come across more believable on camera.

I also like the “Temporary Domme” style and perhaps just slightly more than the “Sensual Facilitator Domme.” I think the reason for that is that the dom in these situations may well wind up as a sub before the plot is over. Doesn’t always happen, and great when it does, but the possibility is there dangling in front of us. The recent harem video you mentioned is a good example of this. The “Girl Flesh Ranch” video also had the same potential outcome as well. With the harem set either Elle and Sammie might get free and take some revenge or the Sultan might enter and be displeased at the senior slave girl taking matters into her own hands. You never know if it will happen, and hopefully it will from time to time, but it helps expand the fantasy.

As far as you taking on the role of the dom in future sets and videos I don’t have a problem with it in concept. True we have primarily seen you on the site in the role of a sub but there have been some dom roles that have been done well. This is fantasy after all so it is not hard for me to envision someone being a sub in one set and then being a dom in the next. Besides, that’s called being a “Switch” and I certainly don’t have an issue with that. But the roles you take on have to have a certain believability to them to make it work. If you are uncertain about what you are doing in a “Sexual Sadist Domme” role then that will come across on camera, particularly on video and could easily wreck the scenario you are trying for. Of course that doesn’t apply to something like the “Girl Flesh Ranch” which I would call pure “Farce” and which kind of throws believability overboard so most any dom style works.

Will look forward to seeing how you progress with the dom role and, of course, will still seriously enjoy you in the restraints as well. Get well soon.

Cheers,

Jeff

Greetings from New Jersey,

Hello everyone. The hogtie is certainly one of my favorite positions for bondage. At times it can be my favorite one but I also really like a spread eagle on a bed (obvious for its love making possibilities) and I also like seeing a model tethered to something and particularly am a fan of cage scenarios. I would guess with the latter two it is a form of control thing…. knowing that the lady is not going anywhere anytime soon. My speculation on the general bondage population’s reason for liking the position so much may well be a combination of both a control thing since done properly a hogtie (either classic hands behind the back and tightly linked to the angles or the cross ankle variation) is very difficult to escape from and often the lady can be in the position for a reasonably long time, but is also one of the most helpless positions one can be placed in without being tied to an object. Often the subject can do little else other than roll from lying on her tummy to lying on her wrists and ankles and back again. Obviously the helpless factor is really part of the control element but I think many people often tend to separate that out for its own element as they simply enjoy seeing their partner (real life or in fantasy images) so helpless. Of course as the lady is rolling around trying to escape you get to enjoy her form from many different angles which certainly is not a bad thing. I know that the US bondage publishing firm Harmony Communications did a survey of positions and reasons for bondage in their lead magazine back sometime in the 1990’s and the hogtie was the favorite then as well. If I recall correctly, many of the male respondents said they enjoyed both playing the villain who puts the lady in bondage as well as playing the “white knight” who rescues her and gets her “reward” for having rescued her. So while the hogtie might not allow for easy sexual activity itself, with the lady’s “rescue” her reward to her rescuer becomes the ends to justify the means of her helpless. I think it may well be the sum of the experience and just the position itself. My two cents.

Cheers,

Jeff

Greetings from New Jersey,

Bittersweet news but perfectly understandable. I’d be foolish to try to improve on Kate’s words so let me just say I echo them as well. Congradulations, good luck and all the best to you and your bride to be. Hope you can pop in once and a while to say “Hi”.

Cheers,

Jeff

Greetings from New Jersey,

Very cool Kate.

Cheers,

Jeff

Greetings from New Jersey – Again,

I was just on my out to celebrate July 4th (sorry to friends across the Atlantic) but decided to take a quick look to see if more of the site trip photos might have been posted yet. Not a whole lot to say other than … oh… wow … amazing … stunning …… uh did I mention WOW!? It’s hard to say what looks like the best or what one might want to see first but if I had to pick a pair or so it would be the triple shot of Sabrina, Ariel and Paige, the initial dusk shot of Ariel and that night shot of Ariel in the steel yoke with the back lighting. A most impressive photo. Clearly the RE crew has managed to out do itself yet again. Compliments to all the ladies and gentlemen behind the cameras and, or course, to all the lovely ladies in front of the cameras bringing life to our fantasies. Your collective work is very much appreciated.

Best tyo your all and thanks,

Cheers

Jeff

Greetings from New Jersey,

Hi All. Well it looks like another great month is in store for the RE membership. Once again a nice mix of new sets together with some old favorites. A couple of my own personal favorite scenarios are covered with some outdoor shots as well a cage set. As always there is a good cross section of dungeon style scenes along with more every day settings. The video sample was not to my tastes but you can’t please every one every time. That’s part of being the community which RE has become.

As always, a big Thank You to Hywel, to all very the talented people behind the scenes and to all the lovely and talented ladies in front of the camera. I know I’ll be looking forward to seeing the example shots from the next big location shoot as well. Hope all goes well for you.

Cheers,

Jeff

Greetings from New Jersey,

Emily is an American model. I think she is based somewhere in the south eastern portion of the country based on what one of her websites is called. I have no idea if she does fetish modeling outside the USA or not or what her rates might be. Could be a bit pricy to book if Hywel has to include airfare but if she comes over on her own for other reasons, why not?

Cheers,

Jeff

Greetings from New Jersey,

Hi Kate. This may or may not be related to the problem RCJM38 has been running into but figured I’d pass it along. I have the McAfee anti virus and firewall package on my PC and today when I first tried to log into the forum today I got a message from the McAfee package that it had flagged a script trying to change the Windows Registry on my system. That has never happened previously from RE. Also I’ve received “error 404 page not found” messages twice today when first trying to open thread pages on the forum. Both times I just hit the back buttom and then clicked on the page again and things were fine but also have not run into that scenario before either. Not sure if there actually is a problem or just my system actting a bit crazy but better to be proactive and let someone know. If I run into any other quirks I’ll let you and Hywel know.

Cheers,

Jeff