Shirk

However, even though it is so easy to write a newsletter entry, I am sure there aren't too many of you who are actually making the most of the space you have to capture the attention of those valuable subscribers!

Remember, email has been abused over the last few years, as it is free and wide open to SPAMMERS of all descriptions. If people are being spammed (and most are) then you have to use a service with a relevant theme and the credibility to go with it.

If you choose to use a service with a quality opt-in list, you know those people have requested the newsletter and they are aware of the associated terms, conditions and relevant privacy policy.

This gives you (the advertiser) the assurance of not only knowing that all of the recipients are relevant to your industry sector, but they are also attaching a value to the content within the newsletter.

So, if you are going to use this kind of service, there are three Fundamental points you must bear in mind:

1. Include a catchy heading
2. Offer something of real value
3. Define a clear call to action

You see, most companies treat newsletter entries as a cut down and simplified version of a PR story - this is not the way to go!

Your entry should have a catchy headline, punchy text and a call to action to get people to click on your links.

A short version of a case study about a company using your website to find photographers/suppliers will not provide the impact you are looking for.

So, how about this:

ALL the photographic and creative contacts you will ever need

We have now introduced amazing new functionality and content that ensures a complete and definitive guide to photographic and creative contacts on the web. If you are a publisher, ad agency or involved in the advertising industry, take a look today. It's free to join and we offer an unrivalled level of quality tools and resources.

Of course, this entry is just an example, but you can see why the 'sales message' approach, including a 'call to action' actually works. After all, you clearly have to offer something of value to entice people to click on your link.

Remember, a call to action can make the difference between a flop and a success, so take that all important 25 minutes out and write a good entry!

Andrew Long is an advertising sales consultant and expert in the field of generating revenues from websites and other media. He offers media companies a bespoke solution to selling advertising and making money from their websites and other media. This article can be used on other relevant websites but a reference to the author and a live web link to http://www.selling-advertising.com MUST be displayed. For more information about Andrew's services please go to http://www.selling-advertising.com or http://www.myadbase.com/cgi-bin/help.cgi?help_entry_id=22

Shibari (.a.k.a. "Japanese bondage" is an ancient, Japanese, integrated concept of body, mind and spirit.

The objective is to unlock erotic energy through trance or trance-like experiences.

Trance (a different level of awareness) is being achieved through a refined mix of atmosphere, ritual, meditation, love, techniques and intensity of the situation.

Most forms of oriental lovemaking are hardly ever straightforward sexuality, but an intriquing game of exploration and challenges and a delicate combination of subtlety and expliciteness.

Shibari is no different.

What is trance?

Trance is a situation where one is so dedicated to and concentrated on one specific goal or situation, that - through blocking out everything else - the spiritual capacities of the mind are eniterly dedicated to that specific activity. This opens the mind to be able to experience - and use - things it never could under "normal" circumstances, since the brain will be too distracted and too busy.

Certain hormones - endorphins especially - play an important role in trance. Endorphins (morfine-like amino acids produced by the body) are the key factor here. Endorphins are known as the "mood chemicals" in your body. They create your moods, all of them. They come in complex cocktails and also serve other purposes. For example, they are a natural painkiller. Experiencing high doses of endorphins release is called an endorphins rush. This is known as the "runners' high" in athletics and as "subspace" in power exchange activities.

A combination of endorphins, dopamine (known as "the lover's feel good hormone"), enkapheline and adrenaline releases creates "super awareness" and this is the key factor in creating trance. Since experiences such as fear, anxiety, stress and physical impulses such as pain all cause the release of high doses of adrenaline and subsequently endorphins - these impulses are being used to allow you to climb the first steps of the trance ladder. Endorphins have a "sister-hormone" called enkephaline, which works on the spinal cord in the same way enderphines work on the brain.

Since mood is important atmosphere is important, which is why - in Shibari body mind spirit terms - a lot of emphasys is being placed on preparation and the physical area. For this, such things as candle light, aroma therapy (incense or evaporating essential oils), bathing and other rituals and techniques are used to create "makama" - the "circle" (area), the physical area where both partners will experience their intens lovemaking. Meditation helps to focus the mind and eventually Ki energy exchange is being used to further enhance the bonding between partners and the forces of gravity and sensory deprivation techniques are being used to create full trance.

Erogenous zones

There is a widespread misunderstanding: "erogenous zones are directly connected to the genital area and other primary sex-identifying features (such as the breasts)". Fact of the matter is that some 25 percent of the body surface (slightly more on the male body) can be identified as an erogenous zone. And the brain no doubt is the largest sex-organ. Erogenous zones are usually best stimulated through gentle massage, but they are also very receptive to other forms of stimuation, for example pain (if you are into that), or bondage.

The seven patterns of passionate lovemaking

By gently - or more strongly, in order to introduce the element of mild pain - pressing your finger nails into the fleshy parts of your partners' body you can not only leave temporary marks but doing this can also be an erotic game by itself. To do so, even and symmetric patterns are your best choice. This will not only indulge her lust, but it will also leave something to remember for a few hours a maybe a day or two, an effect that - more intensly - usually is also the result of whipping and caning.

Ropemarks are often an essential part of bondage. In a Shibari body mind spirit context they play a role, similar to other ways of leaving lovemarks.

In its original form these patterns should follow specific designs and all serve specific purposes. The idea is to leave physical marks that will function as a "tell tale", which - for example in ancient India - forced the "marked woman" to hide these marks since they indicated lustful, wild love. The more intens the temporary mark, the more intens the lovemaking had been. Complicated, repeated combinations of the seven patterns would indicate that the woman had really suffered during the lovemaking and the complicated patterns make it clear that she had to remain still during a long foreplay, while pain-impulses and excitement increased her lust.

The bite of love

Teeth tenderly or not, sinking into the tender female flesh, is not just a scene taken from a Dracula movie. Many novels and poems tell stories about lovebites. And in fact, like whip marks, bruises and others, bite marks serve as something to remember, to be proud of, to relive the passionate night before - the pain, the extacy, the lust, the love and the intimacy.

The Kama Sutra again is one of the very few sources that describes the combination of marking and pain impulses during lovemaking. Unfortunately, although various other patterns are mentioned, they are not described in sufficient detail to reconstruct them. Various different flower patterns are mentioned for example. These must be combinations of teeth and nail imprints.

The magic of knots

The magical power of the knot is as old as mankind. You will find references to the magical power of the knot in almost any ancient culture, be it Babylonic, Celtic, Oriental, Hermetic, Wicca, Voodoo or other.

Love magic - and there are many forms of that - almost always involves the use of knots and, of course, rope. Actually, we still have some of that left in modern times. Tie a knot in your handkerchief so you will remember something really important

How does it work?

Magic is all about manipulating the energy of life. This energy is called Ki in Japanese, Chi in Chinese or Prana in Sanskrit (the ancient language of India, still used in yoga for example). Conciously tieing one or more knots in a rope is a way to bundle this energy and store it there. Of course this energy will not make your car run. Neither will it make the lights go on. But it will be more than enough to have its influence on the subtle network of Ki energy exchange, that is everywhere.

In Shibari these "energy loaded" knots and ropes will replace the heart and hands of the giver and as such will contribute to the entire physical and spiritual experience. They enable the giver to "still be close to the recipient", even when physically not around. The interaction between the giver's energy - temporarily stored in the knots - and the pressure points on the Ki meridians in the recipients' body is what will release very powerful sexual and spiritual experiences.

Sexual energy is one of the most powerful manifestations of Ki energy. This is the reason why we still refer to whatever happens between love partners as "the magic", "the spark" or "the energy".

Universal love magic

The use of rope and knots, when working with sexual energy, is universal. In ancient Babylon (in the Middle East) seven knots were tied in a rope to invoke love. Wicca has a similar tradition of making three knots in a rope for the same purpose (sometimes with an almond - the "love nut" - inside each knot). African Voodoo works with either seven knots in a rope or with dolls, tied to each other, to invoke love, the Kama Sutra speaks of female love partners, suspended in rope to enhance their sexual energy. These are just a few of many examples.

Is all this strange? Actually not. There are over 50 erotic pressure points (Tsubo) on the human body, each as powerful as the clitoris or the nipples. And there are another 60 hormone-releasing pressure points along the spine, many of which have an erotic/sexual function. Ropes and knots will stimulate all these directly and energy, bundled in a knot, will only enhance their effect.

Dutch former journalist and government spokesman Hans Meijer is the author of the groundbreaking "Shibari Fumo Ryu" series of e-books, the first ever books outside Japan and written in English about Shibari techniques.

Yellow Pages advertising is one of the most popular forms of advertising in the country today. Almost every home in America (96.9%) and business has at least one copy of "the book".

Almost three out of five (58%) of all adults say they check the Yellow Pages for a phone number and/or address at least once per week, with 77% using the book monthly.

While the Yellow Pages are an excellent reference tool, they fare less well when considered as an advertising medium. People use the Yellow Pages to look for a familiar name. If your other advertising works, then fining you in the Yellow Pages should be a snap.

Remember, once the book is published, you can't change your ad until the next publish date.

Here BIG Mike's 5 Tips to make your Yellow Pages Ad HOT.

1 - Sell the benefits

Put a headline on your ad pushing benefits. Explain how the benefits will help your prospect fulfill their needs.

2 - Forget extra cost color

The only thing color has been proven to do in Yellow Pages advertising is increase the price you pay for the ad.

3 - Ask for the order

Writing "Call us now at xxx xxxx" will get more responses than if you simply listed you phone number.

4 - Write like you talk

Inject your personality into everything you write. No-one wants to read boring and stuffy legal-ease. Use short sentences and words. Use simple language Use the word you.

5 - Avoid Bragging

Don't boast "biggest and best". It turns people off, even if it is true. Being number one won't sell any product for you.

Remember, the Yellow Pages is generally a reference tool. People look for a name they recognize (or can't remember) or for a name given by a friend. Your ad should help them remember. The only other use of the Yellow Pages is to look for an emergency services. That's why you see lots of tow truck ads and no ads from Sears. Design your ad accordingly

2007 BIG Mike McDaniel is the Small Business Advertising Expert. Get BIG Mike's Free Newsletter BIG Ideas for Small Business. Find hundreds advertising articles at Small Business Advertising Articles

The cowl blouse or shirt has that close fitting look. It has that drapy look which one associates with garments that are cut on the bias i.e. 45degrees. Still the fabric is cut on the bias but when drafting the cowl, there are no specific angles that one works with. It may look in some way that the bodice has been tilted at a 45degree angle. However angles are not important in drafting the cowl. What is important is the depth of the neck line. This is the central element in drafting a simple cowl pattern.

The neckline that one associates with shirts is gone. Thus the neckline is not a curved line. Another important that might be noted in drafting the cowl is that the fabric will be cut on the bias. Thus there is a new shape to the garment. The usual neck line is gone but what replaces this neck line is that folding drapy 'cowl' look. How is this created?

Firstly establish the depth of the neck. Ask yourself how far you want the folds to drape and hang. Maybe you just want a few folds. Work on the right center front bodice and tilt the bodice using the shoulder neck point as the guide point. Remember for a simple cowl that the important rule is that the center front line and the 'straight' neck line are at right angles to each other. Thus use a set square to set the angle.

Note that there is new added fabric on the front and this creates the hang and drape that is unique to the cowl ; But this is not all ; the aim is to create new fabric room at the center front. You rotate the center front to the right and thus create the space... remember the center front line; You have turned the shoulder neck point to the right by a suitable angle. Use a set square with one part on the new shoulder neck point and then you can move down and create your new center front

Remember that this shoulder neck point is an absolute point and from this point the neck line is created. In the cowl the neckline is straight and this allows the folds to be created. The depth of the neck doesn't create a new angle for the center front. The neck line and center front are at right angles to each other for a simple cowl neck.

It is interesting that a new center front line is created with a new length. This, in some way, matches in with the neck depth line to create the overall clingy cowl look. The depth of the neckline is the length of the straight line from the shoulder neck point. At the end of this line or the point denoting the actual depth of the neck, there is the center front. Move down a right angled line for the center front.

To establish fit, the fabric is cut on the bias which is 45 degrees. Thus when creating the cowl, remember firstly to turn the shoulder neck point outwards- remember too that you are also adding fabric at the center front area; This fabric is added on in the bodice area; yes the bodice is widened and the center front is a new line. The cowl pattern can look distorting and strange because the usual neck line is gone but the shoulder neck point is still the shoulder neck point. This is the absolute point from which you create the cowl.