How to Make a Bondage Rope Suit

A rope suit is another word for a Karada, a simple garment that is used as part of bondage activities and is traditionally worn by women. The Karada is part of Shibari, a Japanese form of bondage. Karada literally translates to body. The rope suit is worn mainly around the torso with a loop around the neck and a length between the legs. Alternate versions can be worn with the rope wrapped around the upper thighs.

Step 1

Locate the midpoint of your length of rope. Mark this spot by tying a small piece of thread around it or using a permanent marker to make a line. While 25 feet of rope should be adequate to construct a rope suit for most women, larger women may require a longer length of rope. Extra rope can always be trimmed or tied off later or used as part of bondage activities.

Step 2

Drape the rope around the back of the neck and bring the ends over the shoulders with the midpoint at the base of the neck. Bring the ends of the rope over each other and twist three times so that the twists sit on the chest about 5 inches from the neck.

Step 3

Bring both ends of the rope through the legs and up between the buttocks. Pull each rope end apart from the other toward the sides of the body.

Step 4

Wrap each end around the hip then through the lowest twist on the front of the suit. Do not pull the rope tight as you pull the rope ends back and across each other across the back. Bring each end back around to the front and wrap through the middle twist. Bring the ends back across the back once again then wrap through the top twist.

Step 5

Wrap or tie off the rope ends. If you have extra rope, you can drape it down the center of the back and wrap it around or tie it to one of the back cross sections.

Sources:

• The Hishi Karada; A Body Weave; Tatu; 2005 [http://www.japaneseropeart.com/RopeArt/Hishi_Karada/index.html]
• Franklin Veaux's Journal; How to Make a Rope Harness . . . ; February 5, 2007[http://tacit.livejournal.com/199593.html]

How to Build Your Own Aquarium Bucket Skimmer

What you'll need:


Electric drill with bit
1 3-inch tub washer
Hose clamps
Hang-on specimen container
1 2-inch hole saw
2 siphon tubes
1 1/2-inch wide pipe
1 1/2-inch couplings
Hose to connect with pipe
Screen
Glue (optional)
Pump

A bucket skimmer is a piece of equipment used by aquarium owners to help keep fish tanks clean. Its main purpose is to remove protein deposits, or fish excrement. Skimmers help prevent algae growth and help keep fish tank water clean and healthy. A variety of commercially produced skimmers is available, but you can save money by constructing your own from inexpensive parts.

Drill a hole in the bottom of the specimen container. The hole should be close to the edge of the container, but with enough room to attach the couplings and to be able to turn them comfortably.

Place the washer at the bottom of the container. Attach the two couplings with the female coupling on top or inside the specimen box. If you are concerned about leakage, glue everything in place.

Hang the container on the side of the tank. Make a marking on the container where you want the water level to be. Place a section of pipe in the coupling inside the container, and mark it 1/4 inch below your water level mark.

Remove the pipe from the container, and cut it at the mark. Place it back inside the container. Hold off on gluing the pipe in place until you are sure it will not need any adjustments.

Pour water into the specimen container to the marked water line. Remove air from siphon tubes and place one in the top of the container and one in the bottom with their opposite ends going into the tank. Place a screen over the end of the siphon coming from the tank to prevent accidentally picking up fish. If you have the return siphon under the water line drill a small hole in it just under the water level to prevent siphoning through this line in case of a power outage.

Remember: Make sure to regularly change your sump's filter to keep the water clean.

Colonial America Lesson and Craft: Decorated Chest

The thirteen colonies were populated by people who left their homes and came to the new world for different reasons. Many came for religious freedom, others came seeking new opportunities. All had to leave behind their old homes and take a long and often dangerous ocean voyage to reach their new home. They were limited in what possessions they could bring with them on the journey. Many brought with them large wooden chests containing souvenirs from the Old World. Have children consider the different colonists who traveled to America. What do they suppose these early settlers would have packed in their chests?

Students can craft their own version of a colonial chest using a shoe box or other sturdy box. Paint over the box using a brown or tan colored paint. Then have students decorate their boxes using colored paints. Examine books that show Colonial motifs or traditional Pennsylvania Dutch designs for inspiration. After the boxes are created, ask students what items they might bring with them if they were leaving their home to start a new life in a land far away.

Colonial America Lesson and Craft: Quill Pen

In what is now the United States, the Colonial period lasted from about 1607 to 1776. During this time the original thirteen colonies were governed by Great Britain. The signing of the Declaration of Independence brought an end to Colonial rule and helped to establish a new nation. Simple craft activities can help reinforce lessons about colonial life and help bring this era to life for elementary students.

During the Colonial era, there were no telephones and no computers, people communicated with friends and family by writing letters. These letter writers often used quill pens constructed from turkey or goose feathers that were dipped into ink. Students can craft a quill pen to experience how people in Colonial times would have written letters. This activity can be used as a language arts curriculum connection so students can practice their letter-writing skills. It is also a good time to examine the Declaration of Independence that was drafted using a quill pen as well as the quill pen signatures at the bottom.

Goose quills can be obtained from craft stores and poultry farms. The quill should be soaked in warm soapy water. Two inches of feathers should be trimmed from the base of the quill. The end of the quill should be cut at an angle and the stalk should be cleaned with a straight pin. Students can use purchased ink, or for more authenticity you can help students to craft their own ink using berries or black walnuts.

Where to have a birthday part for a four year-old in Cortland, New York

by Samantha Walters


Located in the Finger Lakes region in Central New York, Cortland is known is for having great schools as well as many recreational and athletic opportunities and as a result is an attractive area for many young families. Throwing a birthday party in your own home, especially for a 4-year-old, can be stressful and time consuming. Thankfully Cortland and the surrounding areas have some great facilities that will host a memorable birthday party for a young child.

281 Bowl

Located on Route 281 in Cortland, 281 Bowl is a full service bowling alley with birthday party packages available. Your 4 year-old and his or her friends will enjoy getting to have the chance to knock the pins down, and keeping all the guests near the one or two lanes you have reserved will make it easier for you and the other adults to keep an eye on them. Since 4 year-olds can have difficulty with heavy bowling balls and getting them to stay in the lane ask about gutter bumpers as well as special bowling ramps or lightweight bowling balls when making your reservation.

Jo-Ann Fabrics

The Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft store located on Clinton Street in Cortland is more than just a craft supply store, they also offer children's birthday party packages. Jo-Ann provides a party room, all craft supplies, an instructor and party invitations for one inclusive price and is a great idea for creative youngsters. Many 4 year-olds enjoy being able to play with the craft supplies and create their own work of art. The projects double as take-home presents. Best of all, the store will handle all the setup and clean up.

McDonald Sports Complex

The 80,000 square foot J. M. McDonald Sports Complex located on Fairgrounds Drive in Cortland has plenty of indoor space for your child's birthday party. The facility includes an indoor ice rink as well as recreational fields and partners with Bounce Around Party Rentals. For 4 year-olds the large amount of space to run around will help them to burn off their energy before it's time to sit and have cake and open presents.The facility regularly hosts parties and private functions both large and small.

Shipwreck Golf

Shipwreck Golf Amuseument Center is located on Route 13 in Cortland and with its indoor facilities is open year round. Party packages are available that include bouncing time or a round of miniature golf. For an extra fee, both events can be included. Parties last 2 hours with the activity completed first followed by the party festivities. The 2-hour time limit is just right for 4 year-olds and by having activity time first will ensure that they should be able to sit for refreshments and presents. A private party room is included. Reservations and a deposit are required.


Sources and further information:


Cortland County Chamber of Commerce

Party Ideas

When cats go gray

by Samantha Walters


Help! My cat's fur is changing colors
It can be a troubling to see your family pet undergo a physical change, especially if you are not sure of the reason. It is not uncommon to see a cat with dark or black fur slowly start to go gray. Usually this is a gradual change and it may only affect certain parts of the animal's coat. In most cases, this is a normal condition and not cause for alarm.

Aging Cats
The most likely cause of a black cat's fur turning gray is old age. Just like with people, a cat's fur can slowly start to turn to gray as the cat grows older. Often this graying occurs on the cat's face. It may be accompanied by a changing of the texture of the fur or a thinning of the fur. Usually this change is gradual and is not cause for alarm. However, if the change has occurred suddenly or the cat is still young, you should consult your veterinarian to make sure that it is not the sign of a more serious health problem or the result of a dietary deficiency.

Why Hair and Fur Turns Gray
The reason an older cat's fur turns gray is the same that human hair turns gray with age. Hair and fur color comes from the pigment melanin. Melanocytes are the cells which make up melanin and color fur and hair. As we age melanocyte activity slows down or stops, resulting in less pigment coloring the new furn and hair being grown. When this occurs for different animals is controlled by our genes, which is why some people go gray sooner than others. Melanocyte activity at each follicle is controlled separately, so that fur and hair turn gray gradually as melanocyte activity slows, then stops at different follicles.

Vitiligo
Feline vitiligo is a rare condition that can strike cats. This causes white or gray fur to appear in a cobweb or snowflake pattern that is described as showing up as a white lace pattern. Though any colored cat may develop this condition, it is most easy to see in black cats. It will grow more pronounced as the cat ages, until the fur has turned almost completely gray. Vitiligo can occur in other animals including  large cats in the wild, dogs, horses and people.

Periocular Leukotrichia
Cats with dark color points, particularly Siamese cats, can develop a condition called periocular leukotrichia, which causes a lightening of the hair around the eyes. This is described as giving the cat's face a goggle-like appearance. The condition is not permanent. Dark hair usually regrows in two hair cycles. It is observed almost exclusively in female cats and usually relates to a bigger health problem such as a dietary deficiency or pregnancy. There are no reported cases of it occurring in an all black cat.

Sources and further information:
Physical Changes in Your Cat
Everyday Mysteries: Gray Hair
Animals Can Also Develop Vitiligo Too
Periocular Leukotrichia