Linkblog

All About The Ass

• California sues 20 toy manufacturers

  The California attorney general and Los Angeles city attorney filed a lawsuit on Monday against 20 companies accusing them of manufacturing or selling toys with unlawfully high levels of lead.

  The lawsuit, which names U.S. toy companies including Mattel Inc, and retailers, including Toys "R" Us Inc and Wal-Mart Stores Inc, says the companies knowingly exposed children and their parents to lead and did not provide sufficient warning about its risks.

  "Despite the lengthening global supply chain, every company that does business in this state must follow the law and protect consumers from lead and other toxic materials," California Attorney General Jerry Brown said in a statement.

  The lawsuit follows a series of recalls this year that have led to millions of toys being taken off store shelves. Many of the recalled toys were made in China.

  Gareth Lacy, a spokesman in Brown's office, said the attorney general hoped the companies would settle the lawsuit by agreeing to increased inspection, testing and lower lead levels.

  The state can require companies to put warning labels on products that contain hazardous materials and or require companies to adopt more rigorous inspection procedures.

  The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled millions of toys this year because they contained excessive amounts of lead. Other toys have been recalled because they contained other toxic substances and small parts that could be swallowed.

  Mattel, the world's largest toy maker, makes about 80 percent of its toys in China. The company recalled some 21 million of its Chinese-made toys worldwide this year.

  In October, one of its shareholders sued Mattel, accusing the company of failing to report serious defects in its toys.

  Mattel said it was working with California's attorney general to improve toy safety.

  "The use of paint with impermissible levels of lead by certain subcontractors was a clear violation of the company's quality and safety standards," Mattel said in a statement.

  Lacy said the companies named in the suit could be fined up to $2,500 per day per "violation," that is every time a consumer or child is exposed to a contaminated toy, but it would be up to the court to decide what constitutes a "violation."

  Rueters
  --------------------

  If I owned any other sex toy company I'd start sweating. No they are only looking at childrens toys, not adult toys, but if they did... omg. What would they find? The Danish found aresnic, lead, antimony, touline, and cadmium- it's sickening.

  
• Happy Birthday....

  wish I knew how to put a sound bite in and play Marrilyn's version of "happy birthday" to JFK...

  Happy Birthday Michael. Thank you for being you... and sharing yourself with so many here at Tantus. And thank you for being a part of my life. I learn more from you each day.

  
• Sex Toy Ingredients

  

  In a non regulated industry "silicone" has become a marketing lingo. Thanks to BadVibes.org here is the chemical analysis

  Sue Johanson Royal Balls
  Styrene-Butadiene Copolymer (28% Styrene) with Mineral Oil
  7% Unknown Additives
  28% Volatile Compounds

  *including cyclohexanone, butenal, decane, 3,3-dimethylheptane, 2-toluenesulfonamide, styrene, unknown phenol derivative, and silicone derivatives
  -------------

  Finally analysis we can all read and learn from.

  Cudos Jennifer and Jessica at Bad Vibes!

  
• Sex Trivia

  According to the World Health Organization, there are approximately 100 million acts of sexual intercourse each day. That is over 69,000 coming this very minute- and that's assuming only one person is coming to orgasm per act.

  For every web page there are 5 porn web pages

  The only unnatural sex act is one which you cannot perform- Alfred Kinsey

  The sex toy used most often is a candle.

  30% of women over the age of 80 still have sexual intercourse either with their spouse or boyfriends

  Clitoris comes from the Greek work "kleitoris", meaning the female genitals.

  During the Victorian Era the clitoris disappeared from medical texts and illustrations.

  In western medicine genital massage to orgasm was the recommended cure Doctors performed for treatment of the female disease hysteria (literally womb disease). Vibrators were invented to aid doctors from this tedious task.

  Most of the vibrators sold by dealers and hawked about the country are mere trinkets which accomplish little more than titillation of the tissues- 1909 medical catalog selling vibrators to doctors.

  An aroused clitoris doubles in size.

  On average it takes 15 seconds for the clit to return to its normal size after orgasm.

  40% of women will reach orgasm after 10 minutes of clitoral stimulation, 90% of women will reach orgasm after 20 minutes.

  1860 an American physician invented the first small steam-powered massager. By 1870, these devices were being advertised in medical catalogs as "ideal for the treatment of female disorders." Hello, vibrators!

  It was thought during the Middle Ages that a woman had to orgasm in order to be impregnated.

  The tissue of the urethral sponge or what we now refer to as the Grafenberg spot (g-spot) was identified by anatomists during the Renaissance.

  Up to 40 glands make up the G-Spot, how sensitive the sponge or a spot on it is varies from woman to woman.

  Anatomist Regnier De Graaf discovered the female prostate in 1672, Dr Alexander Skene in 1880, researcher Ernst Gafenberg in 1950.

  According to recent surveys, the man is the most likely partner to be tied up during sex

  Far more straight people than gay people practice anal sex!

  The anus contains more nerve endings than any other part of the male body, and more than any part of the female body except the clitoris.

  Anal intercourse is the least practiced form of anal sex.

  Overall 25% of men and women try anal sex in their lifetimes, 10% has done so in the last year and 2% on their last sexual encounter.

  Sue Johanson claims 43% of all women have tried anal sex.

  14% of males said that they did not enjoy sex the first time. 60% of women say they did not enjoy sex their first time.

  

Politics of Being "Adult"

• Busy as a Beaver

  So while I scuttle around the web with a word here and a promo there and a hey dilly dilly... I'm also working on a new project that has been in the works almost a year.

  Most people shouldn't own businesses, the hours are long, the pressure is difficult and the pay isn't that great. I, on the other hand have a hard time not being an entrepreneur. I'm a Sag with a Gemini moon- when I'm not thinking I'm still thinking...

  When Ace first introduced me to one of his pet projects- a concept that merged porn culture and clothing I thought it was brilliant. I remember the im when he asked if I'd be interested in creating the business with him. I jumped at the opportunity.

  Eight months have probably gone by since we agreed to pursue it... and we have revised the concept considerably- but it's now off the ground (or will be come next month). Equipment is being unloaded as I type and the new lease begins April 1!

  Sorry for the elusiveness... I can't wait to blab

  
• Ethical Porn

  SC States Support for BPAV, Video Screens Available
  By Steve Javors
  Wednesday, May 3, 2006

  
  CANOGA PARK, Calif. - The Free Speech Coalition has issued a statement of support for Best Practices in Adult Video (BPAV). Created by XBIZ publisher Alec Helmy, BPAV promotes responsible and ethical business practices in the adult community through use of its official seal and logo.

  "Free Speech Coalition heartily supports the five points outlined by BPAV," FSC Executive Director Michelle Freridge told XBIZ. "Best practices identify values and ethics to guide businesses; promote standards of professionalism; provide a framework for responsibility and accountability; and are the hallmark of a mature industry."

  The five points Freridge refers to are the fundamental bedrock principles of BPAV. They are: disclosure of acts, care in types of acts, respect of performers, performer responsibility and proof of age.

  At the core of BPAV's mission is the BPAV seal, which can be downloaded at BPAV.org/support.html and placed on a company’s website, video box cover, or print materials to express support for proactive responsibility. Producers also can download effective today, video screens displaying the BPAV seal to run on the intro/disclaimer sequences of videos.

  "In partnership with Alec Helmy and many other industry leaders, FSC intends to expand upon the BPAV points in a new and comprehensive Adult Entertainment Industry Code of Ethics and Best Practices," Freridge said. "Look for our first draft before the end of May 2006."

  Helmy was pleased with the FSC's ringing endorsement.

  "The Free Speech Coalition has been on the front lines of the industry for many years," Helmy said. "To have them support BPAV is a validation of its mission statement and will go a long way towards spreading BPAV's message."

  
• home again after missing the first plane

  Friday we returned... late. We missed our first flight. Luckily we have Bambi to blame.

  Bambi fresh into town was still on East Coast time. She was up as early as we were searching for coffee in the kitchen and with a spring in her step. We agreed a walk would be wonderful and plotted the route to Bunny Ranch 2 across the road and up 4 or 5 blocks. Crossing the 5 lane highway during rush hour traffic with Bambi we were afraid she'd freeze wide eyed...

  When you enter a Bunny House you must first ring a bell to get in the gate. When the bell is rung a series of interior bells that go off telling the girls there's a line up. A line up consists of the men, women or couples being handed a menu and viewing a line of girls that they can choose from. The girl takes her paying beau by the hand and gives them a tour during which she finds out what kind of "party" they want and negotiate a price. It was our intention to experience a line up- actually there were 3 houses on the road so we contemplated 3 line ups. Bambi was very excited. Alas we looked at our watches and decided we didn't have time and 7 am isn't the best line up anyway.

  In fact when we got there no girls were up. There was a door woman and the hostess- Terry. We'd met Terry at the other house during a slow night when we just sat and talked about our histories.

  History is a wonderous thing is a cathouse. Which school did you go to? Texas A&M, Columbia, Georgetown, UC Santa Cruz? Let me tell you, not that there weren't about 3 girls who weren't the brightest crayon in the box but as a whole these women are BRILLIANT!

  Anyway we took a tour of Bunny House 2. We saw a VIP room with a sauna room as well as a massage table and bad porn playing. We also saw the janitors closet and the pantry... it was a weird tour. Terry had shown us Bunny House 1... she didn't show us Bunny House 2.

  We left and crossed that nasty highway again... and went four wheel walkin over dirt piles, weeds and cement chunks. We managed to find a path without a wire fense to the iconic neon sign.

  When we got back we were too late for our flight. We called the airline and got a later flight and well we went back to bed. We so deserved that.

  Back up with next to no time to get to the airport we said goodbye to Eden and we searched for Bambi, Mila (who had spent the first day after her move from Bunny Ranch 2 to Bunny Ranch 1 talking between parties with us learning how to do more extreme roll play and taking our recommendation to buy The Story of O).

  So after making late check in... and taking a long flight with a layover- we were home again home again jiggedy jig.

  
• Keeping the internet safe from adult content

  MySpace Hires Online Child Safety Chief
  By Michael Hayes
  Wednesday, April 12, 2006

  SANTA MONICA, Calif. — MySpace has announced the hiring of a former federal prosecutor and Microsoft executive to head up its online security operations.

  Hemanshu Nigam will be responsible for helping to make the News Corp-owned networking site a safe environment for children.

  In recent months, MySpace has faced criticism from parents and law enforcement officials alike for not doing enough to combat online predators and keep the site free from pornographic content.

  "Hemu is a proven leader in online safety and security," Chris DeWolfe, chief executive of MySpace, said. "We are fortunate to have him join MySpace, help us educate the public and protect our members' safety and privacy."

  Joan Irvine, executive director for the Association of Sites Advocating Child Protection, praised the move by MySpace.

  "[The] ASACP is gratified that a high-profile site like MySpace is taking concrete steps to protect children online" Irvine said. "We have met with Mr. Nigam, and expect his involvement to boost MySpace's efforts on behalf of young users. However, not all sites have the capacity or motivation to take such steps, so it remains vital that parents take advantage of available technology and resources to monitor their kids' online activities."

  Nigam, who will start May 1, was plucked from Microsoft, where he was the director of consumer security outreach and child-safe computing. Prior to that, he was a federal prosecutor who worked on a number of Internet child exploitation cases. He also has advised Congress and the White House on issues of online child safety and cyberstalking.

  To further bolster its efforts to make MySpace a child-safe online forum, the 65 million-member site will launch an ad campaign in conjunction with the Advertising Council and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to educated parents and children about safety online.

  MySpace also has restricted access to the site to people over 14 and prevented users from viewing personal information about members who are under 16 without the member's permission. All users under 18 now must read a safety tips guide prior to registering.

  Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, who recently demanded that the site do more to protect children, welcomed the recent moves by MySpace, but reiterated that more work was necessary.

  "A public-safety campaign is a welcome step toward protecting children from pornography and predators — and people looking for sex — but must be followed by more significant, specific measures that we have also urged MySpace to take," Blumenthal said.

  
• metis in the cathouse

  I have many friends who are ex-sex workers. Some of the most well known sexperts in fact are ex sex workers. I'm searching my mind in fact to remember those who weren't- Annie Sprinkle of course; Carol Queen worked the peep shows; Kim Airs was a Pro; Midori a Domme; Violet Blue I know lived on the streets and I believe I once read they did whatever it took to survive.

  HBO has a tv show apparently (I'm a poor TV watcher and since I don't watch I didn't buy the pay channels- like they aren't all pay channels on cable... hello cox!) called Cathouse. Dennis has been canvasing trade shows and telling us "Send Us Your STUFF" so Tantus is sending not only the safest soft toys anatomically designed to hit the spots, but I'm going as well as Sexpert and to encourage the presence of Tantus Toys during filming.

  The Bunny Ranch is a whorehouse just outside Reno. We are bringing a selection of new spectacular pieces.... damn it still haven't gotten images together.

  Happy Easter one and all... and back to Rome-- happy Venus and Adonis fertility holiday where did you think the bunnies and eggs came in anyway!

  
• MySpace and censorship

  Law Enforcement Calls on MySpace to Protect Children
  By Michael Hayes
  Tuesday, March 21, 2006

  HARTFORD, Conn. – Attorney General Richard Blumenthal has sent MySpace.com a letter asking the company to take steps to make the site safer for children.

  The social networking site has become a popular meeting place for a diverse group of users, ranging from singles, to musicians to porn stars. While that mix often entices users to join, it also raises alarms for law enforcement concerned with keeping children safe online.

  "This site now exposes young people to a perilous cyber environment with people posting sexually explicit materials and looking for sexual relationships," Blumenthal said in a letter to MySpace. "Children can still view pornographic images, links to X-rated websites and webcam sex for sale offers."

  While Blumenthal called discussion with MySpace "encouraging," he felt the need to send the letter, writing "These measures are technologically feasible, as well as consistent with your stated terms of service and your own explicit goal of prohibiting nudity and other offensive or inappropriate material from your website."

  Among Blumenthal's requests:

  # MySpace should provide free software that allows parents to block the site.

  # MySpace should raise the minimum age for a user from 14 to 16.

  # Require users to login and verify that they are over 18.

  # Add staff and technology to filter and remove pornography.

  # Ban users who repeatedly post "deep links" to pornography.

  # Hire an independent "watchdog" that will report to the MySpace board on inappropriate material and sexual predators.

  # Make technical changes that will prevent minors from making their pages public.

  MySpace is home to the profiles of many adult performers, marketing and advertising executives and industry fans.

  The company, which is owned by News Corp., did not returns calls from XBiz.

  
• nice girls stay at whorehouses

  The first impression I had of the Bunny Ranch yesterday was that everyone had such a sense of humor... From the rancher who takes care of Dennis Hof's horses, the hostess, the bartender, the maintenance crew and the girls.

  The second thing that struck me was how many couples come here to the Bunny Ranch. There were three different couples here yesterday... and yesterday wasn't a busy day. We talked with Terry the night hostess. It seems the Bunny Ranch is one of the only houses that is welcoming to women and couples. It's amazing to think how the presence of women as consumers could change the image of the oldest industry.

  Couples who want a little spice can experiment securely... and there presence in the lounge is so comfortable- the business shpeel is so much more casual and real.

  So wanna meet some girls? We've been meeting quite a few.

  Last night Eden38DD came into the house. She was a very naughty girl last night socializing with us when the house rules said she shouldn't... but we weren't customers (ehem... cough cough). This woman has PERSONALITY! A wicked sense of humor and a beautiful smile. Smart and intelligent and ultimately professional and serious about her career. I have a slight crush and she wants to learn how to squirt...
  

  Moonshadow Black was last nights most stunning woman. She's still working on the website apparently but let me tell you her petite beautiful frame is amazing. And the man who spent the night with her last night said her ass was the most perfect ever made.
  
  She's no longer a blond... one of the few who aren't.

  My companion had stars in his eyes as soon as he saw Brooke Taylor
  
  She introduced herself as Brooke 34A Taylor in contrast to Eden38DD! She also was bright eyed and bushy tailed this morning by nine- pole dancing in furry slippers. When we called her on the disallusioning image of that (in gest of course) she laid on a couch and did crunchies with a stuffed bunny rabbit over her face (we further complained we couldn't see tongue). Watching her eat an apple was amazing. This girl is the biggest flirt I've seen in forever... and after several hours of bantering she learned exactly who we were when she told us her favorite toy is the Feeldoe she got at AVN.... seems she came to our booth and picked one up there.

  Thus far each woman I've met here has been openly intelligent about her choices, her passions and her future. Rarely in fact have I met people who were this business savy and brilliant. Makes me realize what an amazing place a brothel can be.

  
• Still No Toys in Alabama

  Court: Alabama Can Continue Sex Toy Sales Ban
  By Rhett Pardon
  Friday, March 10, 2006
  XBiz
  BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — In a blow to sex toy and novelty retailers, Alabama's sex toy ban survived another court challenge in federal court.

  A U.S. District Court in Birmingham ruled that Alabama has a right to limit sales of vibrators, sex dolls and butt plugs, as well as any other device used for sexual arousal.

  Alabama's sex toy statute criminalizes the commercial distribution of "any device designed or marketed as useful primarily for the stimulation of human genital organs." Violations are punishable with fines of up to $10,000 and as much as a year in prison.

  Sheri Williams, who owns Pleasures stores in Huntsville and Decatur, filed the lawsuit with seven other women and two men against the state Attorney General

  Williams and the other plaintiffs argued the law was unconstitutional under Lawrence vs. Texas, 539 U.S. 558 (2003), in which the U.S. Supreme Court found no rational basis in public morality for banning sodomy.

  But U.S. District Judge C. Smith's latest ruling finds that the sex toy ban "does not fit squarely within the mold of Lawrence" and therefore survives review.

  "[T]he Alabama statute does not offend the human dignity of a stigmatized class of individuals, nor implicate equal protection concerns about targeting a 'discrete and insular minority' for discrimination or harm out of simple hostility," Smith said in the ruling.

  The case has wended its way throughout the legal labyrinth for seven years, starting with Smith's 1999 holding that the law "was not rationally related to any legitimate state interest."

  In a following legal test Smith reversed his decision, then invalidated it.

  Then the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals limited Smith’s review to a more narrow issue — whether public morality is still a sufficiently rational basis to prohibit what the state's lawyers have called "commerce in the pursuit of orgasms by artificial means for their own sake."

  This time around, Smith showed sarcasm after being rebuked by the 11th Circuit for not following its earlier instructions. "This lowly court," he said in a footnote, "can only hope that it has not again so woefully misconstrued the 11th Circuit’s directives."

  The case is Williams vs. King, No. CV-98-S-1938.

  

Tantus Toys

• Oh Canada

  Tantus' main Canadian distributor just eliminated distributing from their business...

  So there is a quick scramble to get Tantus Silicone up to our Northern neighbors. Come As You Are in Toronto and Black Kat Distributing in Peterboroughdo have us in stock... and soon the West Coast!

  
• Relax its just sex- Hustler Hollywood

  Yesterday was holiday for many... and business adventure for Ace and me.

  We began by painting the shop- Ace and Alex painted, I can't paint. People ask me to please put down the brush and stay away from the paint... The hallowed halls are now a very cool grey.

  At 2pm we met Sportsheets where we brain stormed with Tom, Julie, Todd and Benny. 6 of us hopping on and off the bed... sounds more exotic than it was. But while we were talking we plotted a field trip. That was after 5 hours of laughing and melding minds.

  We visited the local leather store Ringhold Alley where Ace found a cane he's drooling over and Tom some nipple clamps he'd never scene before and we were all impressed by the quality of some rarities that a knowledgable buyer seeks and fills his store with- one bitch they only had 2 pieces of mine left in stock!

  After dinner we hit the Hustler Store
  where we met a new toy buyer Karen. Karen isn't just hot... and she's hot let me tell you... she had put together training materials for her staff; and she was eager to learn more.

  Today beautiful Karen and lucious Leah came to visit the Tantus Dildo Factory. Ace gave them the complete tour as I went searching for all my articles so I could reprint and give them to yet another store that really wants intelligent resources to give better customer service.

  Hustler Hollywood is a very interesting new type of store. Its based on the new intimacy megastore model first created by Bill Murphy of Fairvilla Megastores who is also the new President of the Free Speech Coalition. Hustler has a reputation of being more extreme... but as a store its a clean well lit place to talk intelligently about porn and about sex toys. OK the lingerie is lame but I do like some of the t-shirts and they carry books I know they don't make money off of... but its a good selection.

  Hustler actually blazes the way to making sex relaxed and fun. Relax... its just sex.

  We have a date tomorrow evening with Karen and Leah... just drinks. Its good to get out into the world.

  
• sex toys deep inside... the industry

  Sex Toys Deep Inside... the Industry
  Published in On Our Backs Magazine
  By Metis Black Copyrite 2005

  The first time we were together, I reached into my bedside drawer to get a strap-on, she grabbed at my arm. She told me while she loved sex toys, they didn't love her. Every time she tried a dildo or any soft vibrator she felt broken in the morning. Her pussy was red and swollen, and she could hardly walk. It hurt- and not in that good way. There was something very very wrong.

  She had been playing with novelties!
  ---------------------------

  Let me introduce myself. My name is Metis and I'm the President of Tantus Silicone. I'm part of an industry that makes "novelties". Novelties is one of those elusive words that you think means one thing- nice polite word for sex toys, while it really means something totally different. "Novelty" is a legal term for a product never intended for use. Most toys in your average adult store are clearly marked "for sale as novelty product only". Well that's great if you're a kinky decorator and or gag gift aficionado, but as a girl who likes to play it makes for a frustratingly empty toy box.

  I play with toys just like you. In fact, part of my job as a toy designer, is to understand how and why one product is better than another and how to make new toys even more effective. No one can relay those messages more efficiently to me than to experience them first hand. Prostate free, I still tried an Aneros to see how it worked. I put my Feeldoe in and found motivation and opportunity to do my kegels as a daily regime. I've also bought other name brand items that were a great idea poorly executed and completely missed their mark. Some purchases I wouldn't let near my body. It was bad enough opening the package without a gas mask and protective gloves. Novelty is an industry built around the adage: BUYER BEWARE.

  A sex toy should be safe to play with. It should have a design that works with your anatomy and be finished so that it won't cause scratches or abrasions in your most sensitive flesh. It should also be made of a material that is safe and won't cause physical reactions to its chemicals. One size never fits all, and some of us are more sensitive than others. As consumers you need to educate yourselves. Where do you find that kind of information? It's here right now.

  Before we go over all materials though, I'd like to explain about phthalates. You probably haven't ever heard of a phthalate, but you've certainly smelled them. They are softeners added to what would naturally be a hard material. Phthalates are "new car smell". They are respiratory inhibitors and carcinogens they also play with your hormones adding estrogen. In novelties, you can recognize them as soon as you open the packaging; they smell.

  When you can smell a toy you can be sure of one thing; that the chemistry is unstable and the toy is out gassing. Studies have mainly been done on exposure to animals and the results are the things that horror stories are made of.[i] The latest studies indicate that phthalates are endocrine disruptors interfering with hormones and boosting estrogen levels. Besides a possible link to the reduction of sperm count and the rise in frequency of testicular cancer, this disruption of hormones may counteract breast cancer medicines. And any transmen should really think twice about what they are playing with. Baby product manufacturers and pet product manufacturers have voluntarily eliminated phthalates from their product lines, but with novelties... we're back to buyer beware.

  Novelty Materials Facts

  Mystery Materials: Let's face it; there is a lot of mystery meat in our toy chests. Who can tell what it really is... only a chemist. And in a store with no material listed on the packaging you either have to be psychic or you're taking major gambles. Are these products safe? I'd recommend using a condom on them. If your latex sensitive- don't take a chance. And some of these materials melt if you look at them funny. Keep them out of the sun and away from any other toys.

  Over the condom you can use water soluble lubricant or a silicone lubricant. If you are using these toys condom free, then use only water based lubes and dedicate them to one person. Chances are the pores are open on your mystery material toys; you will be sharing any bacteria no matter how much you attempt to clean them. And cleaning can be tricky. A special toy cleaner is the safest bet. A soft soap is also possible. If the toy has electronic components (no matter what material it's made of), you want to very gently use a wash rag to soap it up and then to rinse.

  Jelly Rubber: Is your toy translucent with lots of bubbles? Does it smell like a chemical factory? If so, you have Jelly in your collection. Jelly is PVC with a phthalate softener. Now PVC is perfectly safe- your water pipes are PVC and it meets all food grade standards. It’s the phthalate that really makes Jelly a problem. Upon exposure you may find your intimate parts enflamed and burning and you may have a discharge that is very similar to a yeast infection. The only safe way to enjoy jelly is to put a condom over it.

  Only water soluble lubricants should be used because other lubes will melt the jelly material- in fact a jelly toy may melt sitting too close to a toy of another material. Dishwashing liquid soaps are too harsh for this type of toy and alcohol will dissolve it. Toy cleaners are really recommended. To store your jelly make certain it is dry and separated from other toys, you don’t want to clean the puddle you may wake up to.

  Latex: Latex is probably the most common material used for toys. It's certainly been around the longest (since the 30's). It's inexpensive and it's made into every shape and size. Latex is always opaque and often flesh toned. You have probably heard of latex allergy or sensitivity; it is getting more and more common. The more exposure you have to latex, the more likely you are to begin getting reactions. Health workers using latex gloves day in day out are especially at risk. But after many years of safely using your toys, if you wake one morning to reactions mimicking yeast infections: inflammation, rash and discharge. If you do throw the latex away.

  The pores on latex are semi porous, so funny as it sounds you should cover your latex toy with a latex condom. As any safe sex student knows, never use an oil based lube on latex- it breaks down and destroys the structure of the material. Alcohol will also break it down. Latex should be cleaned with a soft soap or a special toy cleaner.

  CyberSkin, SoftSkin, and UltraSkin feel almost real. They are soft and subtle and certainly ideal for packing. The base materials are combinations of silicone and latex and the like. If you are latex sensitive­­­- Beware.

  Tantus has done experiments combining latex with silicone, the softer we make it (the more latex we use) the more it seeps. Oil is released. You can do a blot test on a clean sheet of paper at home to see how your toy stands up. I don't know about you, but I put toys in either my pussy or my ass- both of which have very sensitive skin separating the toy from my blood stream. When we speak of chemicals not being stable remember where they are escaping.

  Because of the silicone you don't want to use silicone lubricant with these materials. Because of the latex you don't want to use oil based lubricants. Lubricants in fact, seem to degrade these materials. They make a nice soft stiffy absolutely flaccid. The safest way to use these products if they are for insertion is to wrap it in a condom.

  Cleaning is of the utmost importance with these skin-like materials in order to maintain the texture. They are semi porous and if you rub them firmly you will tare the surface. Special toy cleaner or mild hand soap is recommended. And then you need to dry this material inside and out. To keep it from getting sticky, you need to dust all surfaces with cornstarch before they are put away (not talcum powder, which may cause cervical cancer).

  Elastomers are the latest innovations. We are seeing them in our kitchen ware, our toothbrushes and finally our sex toys. Elastomers are soft patented polymers and while they sound like a mystery, they are phthalate free and some even have closed pores and are remarkably durable.

  The biggest problem that I see with these products is that they aren't really getting the recognition they deserve. Vibratex new soft vibrator bodies are made of safe Elastomers; California Exotics also has a line that has "Phthalate Free" printed across the front of the package.

  But as these sex smart materials are so diverse, and as yet unknown by retailers and consumers alike, they are hard to recognize and even harder to generalize about as to care and cleaning. When in doubt use a condom and a water soluble lubricant and wash with soft soap. Hopefully packaging will include more details soon.

  Silicone is hands down the safest soft material for anything you're going to put into your body. Granted, I'm not unbiased- but I don't know any sex educator who is unbiased in this area. The more you research the issue of safety and sexuality the more you will resolve that silicone is the best product in the marketplace right now.

  Silicone is hygienic because it has no open pores to harbor bacteria and it is so easy to clean. It is stable in high temperatures and will be fine up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit. You can boil or autoclave it. You can also bleach it in a 10% bleach solution or use alcohol swabs. Considering where your toys go- hygiene should be of the utmost importance. Yes, you may put it in your dishwasher.

  Silicone is also hypoallergenic. It's inert so it doesn't react to any other materials and it is stable so it doesn't disintegrate or react when sitting beside something else.

  Now all silicones are not the same. There are different grades of silicone: tin and platinum. They have different chemical make ups, longevities, and compatibilities. While all of the above facts are true for either silicone, only platinum grades can be medical grade quality. No silicone used in toys (that I know of) has had the FDA qualify its materials. It's time consuming and expensive and to get medical liability insurance would make the cost of your toys more than triple.

  Because of the different qualities of silicone out there, and the different qualities of silicone in lubrications, some silicone lubricants bond to some silicone toys. The only thing that will stick to silicone is silicone. That bonding quality is why you calk your windows (also a silica based product). It's impossible to give you all the exceptions- thus we make a blanket statement that silicone lubricants are incompatible with silicone toys. If you love silicone lubricant, try a test patch on the bottom base of your silicone toy. If the patch doesn't get gummy, so the only way to clean it is with your thumb nail, it’s probably going to be just fine.

  The pursuit of pleasure- what could be more wonderful! The adult toy industry is full of amazing people creating amazing products. The dynamics of what get you off is our business. Your satisfaction is very important— and every time a case of product leaves Tantus Silicone we think about the potential orgasms going out the door. But the reality is as a consumer you have to take responsibility for what you put into your body.

  [i] Gray, LE, C Wolf, C Lambright, P Mann, M Price, RL Cooper and J Ostby. 1999. Administration of potentially antiandrogenic pesticides (procymidone, linuron, iprodione, chlozolinatae, p,p'-DDE, and ketoconazole) and toxic substances (diabutyl and diethylhexyl phthalate, PCB 169, and ethane dimethane sulphonate) during sexual differentiation produces diverse profiles of reproductive malformations in the male rat. Toxicology and Industrial Health. 15:94-118

  Brock, JW, SP Caudill, MJ Silva, LL Needham, and ED Hilborn. 2002. Phthalate Monoester Levels in the Urine of Young Children. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 68:309-314

  Ema, M., E. Miyawaki, and K. Kkawashima. 1999. Developmental effects of plasticizer butyl benzyl phthalate after a single administration in rats. Journal of Applied Toxicology 19:357.

  
• Sexual Well Being: no more dirty stores

  Every time we draft new propeganda we have to negotiate the business we are in. Tantus Silicone is by tradition a novelty manufacturer. We make sex toys, adult toys, intimacy products, romance products, fuck toys, novelties, dildos and butt plugs. Intimacy products is too vague; novelties are too misleading (our products are made to be used); a monster truck could be considered an adult toy, etc... so really we stress and strain each time we put new paperwork together.

  Just got back from beautiful Vancouver where Metis has definately shown no skill for carrying an umbrella- I'm deadly.

  While we were there though Sexy Living was telling me about a new chain of stores opening throughout Canada-- Sexual Well Being stores. The backer, head driving force, is a doctor. The plan is to legitimize the offerings with medical advice and consultants.

  Doctors don't always tend to know more than the average Joe when it comes to sex... but this sounded different.

  Anyway I'm excited. The industry needs more mainstreaming. I certainly want to be aboard when it occurs.

  If I had 15 million dollars I'd start a chain here in the states.

  
• Strap-on Documentary

  I'm ready for my close up Mr. DeMille.
  
  Yesterday we at Tantus had some wonderful women from UCLA come and work on a documentary about strap-ons. It was a tour of the dildo factory (minus all the confidencial production proceedures). And they interviewed myself, Ace, Carly, and Brady regarding our experiences not only in the industry but in our personal play.

  I have to say Ace is amazingly fun to watch play with a camera-person. His spontinaity was wonderful. Twice when they were shooting the "tour" he broke out into "Stop in the name of love" complete with hand gestures... they were going into the forbidden zone.

  It was also interesting to hear my messages come from others in the shop. I've used a few key passages over and over in writing and in seminars: stats from the World Health Organization; that the ass is an "equal opportunity oriface"; etc. A sense of pride rushed over me, but a weird jealousy as well. I think they captured enough of me though and I'm more than ok with sharing the spot light.

  So the documentary is much on how things sometimes go wrong and advice for beginners. They have gotten more than 30 interviews but no one has allowed these wonderful girls to film them doing a strap-on scene. They've advertised in LA's craigslist (you can get anything on CL cant you?) to no avail.

  If your interested in being preserved for strap-on postarity- I can put you in touch with them.

  
• Tantus Silicone in Canada

  Tantus Silicone is happy to announce that Sexy Living is representing Tantus in Canada.

  Micheline has been a big supporter and advocate of silicone toys and of Tantus in psrticular. Why didn't this big well known distributor choose prior to this to represent our line? Ethics and loyalty...

  The story is that our former distributor Venus Envy (who stepped down from that side of the business)they feared would be put out of business was Sexy Living to distribute our wares. We discussed it over dinner 3 years ago at Toronto's Everything To Do With Sex show. As they explained their position my admiration grew.

  Welcome Sexy Living to the Tantus Family.

  
• tea party with tantus

  The scene was shot: Tantus Toys were highlighted at the Bunny Ranch HBO show Cathouse and I'm grinning ear to ear.

  Weekly the girls have a tea party were big earners are recognized; information is announced; and tea and sweets are served (today it's lemon bars).

  Dennis Hof himself talked about prostate play; the sensibility of silicone; the design aspects of some of our most anatomically designed toys..... and then the girls fought over them.

  Can't wait to see how much of it is used cause it all came out GREAT!!!

  

Trade Announcements

• A tour through the stockroom

  One of the treats I have as a manufacturer is visiting my accounts. Last week I got to visit JT's beautiful offices, see the new Siren setup, walk the ailes of goods with a shopping cart, and see the impromtu dungeon created for the last photoshoot.

  I've visited the Stockroom probably 6 or 8 times since we've been a business 8 years now. Each visit is bond building. The staff of the Stockroom is family. They swear and sing and laugh together. I know... I've been to Stockroom karaoke.

  The new offices weren't there in November when last I met with their buyer. The brick wall is now cleaned up; and offices built... I'm jealous. It's spacious, open and inviting. Texturally the old beautiful brick works so well with the honey wood of the floor and the glass walls that seperate each office. The place is a showroom for a company that takes pride in making everyones life a little better. One look at the company kitchenand there is no doubt that this is the home of the heart of so very many.

  We were introduced to the new Siren crew... Congratulations all around. Can't wait to see what you create with this wonderful creative company.

  There was new goodies downstairs in the pull and pack area... I'm a kid in a candy store.
  I believe I may have been the first to whisk away a new cincher and cuffs they had standing in wait to be uploaded online. The new color combo ROCKS!!! Also a whip, a collar or two, and four different canes (someone loves canes).

  When we got to the storage room where the dungeon had been built... we couldn't find the light.

  Damn I love this business.

  Before we left we gave out 2006 Tantus Inc Industry Partner T-shirts. Just making certain you got one.

  --------------------
  According to the World Health Organization there are over 100 million sex acts in the world every day. That's over 69,000 people achieving orgasm this very minute. For food we have sauces and spices to vary our diet; for sex- we have toys. The adult industry adds spice to our lives.
  ~ Metis Black

  

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