First, we're happy to announce that the team has identified and fixed the issue with the YouTube conduit; you can now find and add videos from YouTube to your library and posts. As always, thanks for your patience!
The other news we have today is about a new addition to the Six Apart family: TypePad Micro, a new free level of TypePad that is streamlined for microblogging. We see a new form of blogging emerging that lives between the quick status updates of Twitter and Facebook and the long-form posts of "classic" blogging; TypePad Micro is designed to meet that need. You can read more about TypePad Micro in Chris Alden's post on the Everything TypePad blog.
A lot of the new capabilities we've added to TypePad this year were actually inspired by some of the best things about Vox: favoriting, member profiles, a dashboard to follow other bloggers, and easy ways to post content from other social media sites. But the things that make Vox different from TypePad are still there: Vox has always been -- and still is -- the best place for "friends and family" blogging, where you're in control over who sees what. TypePad, on the other hand, is built for the blogger who wants, no, craves, attention.
Do you have a passion or interest you want to share with people beyond your Vox neighborhood? If so, we'd love it if you tried out TypePad Micro. Maybe you've always wanted to start that obsessive blog that's just about waffle restaurants. Or want a place to share videos of your favorite band (Jonas Brothers, anyone? Anyone? ...). TypePad Micro's great for those topic-specific blogs. Take it for a spin and let us know what you think.
On the Vox front, our designers are working on some cool new themes (coming soon!). We'd also love to hear your thoughts about where we should take Vox in the coming year. What are the key things you'd like to see for Vox? If you've had a chance to use TypePad this year, what are the features there that we should bring over to Vox? And, if you're thinking big thoughts, how could we connect the Vox and TypePad communities in order to bring together bloggers and their shared passions? Your feedback is really important to us, so please leave a comment here, or shoot me a message.
And again, thanks for your patience as we found and fixed the YouTube bug!
~ daisy
As many of you have noticed, the YouTube Conduit is not working. I am so sorry about this; I know how frustrating it is.
The team is looking into how to get this fixed and I will update you as soon as I hear something. In the meantime, not all is lost... There is a work-around for posting videos.
When you're in the Compose Screen, just click on "embed." Ignore the fact that it says "Widget" before everything because you can definitely use this to embed videos as well. You'll just need to input the embed code from the video, enter a title (if you want) and hit OK.
It might not show up perfectly in your compose screen, but when you hit "Save," your video should appear just the way you wanted it to.
Hopefully this will allow you to keep posting videos while we figure out what's happening on our end.
As always, thanks for your patience.
Go forth and fill your libraries with media.
Seriously, thanks to everyone for being so amazing and patient. You are the reason I love Vox.
I was just told that the Amazon Conduit will be fixed by tomorrow. I will post here as soon as I get word that it's back up and running.
I know this has been frustrating and I am sorry there wasn't more I could do to make it less so. I really appreciate your patience though.
Cheers,
Bad news. As many of you have probably noticed, the Amazon Conduit was not fixed in the last week's release. Unfortunately, there was an undetected bug that is preventing the conduit from working.
We are working on this bug fix and hope to have the Conduit back up and running this week.
I will keep you posted.
Thank you for being so patient.
Blog Action Day is every October 15th, when blogger are asked to post something about a single issue to show our strength and conviction as an online community. It's a great way to feel connected to the greater good, and the participation of so many bloggers to support the world's leading non-profit organizations is something you can do to help, right now. By blogging today, you're supporting some of the world's leading non-profits and sharing your voice for change.
This year's topic is climate change, and we'd love to read your thoughts on the topic. If you participate, leave us a link to your post in the comments, so we know to check out your post!
Go to www.blogactionday.org to learn more, get a badge for your blog showing your participation, and see some ideas for your post on climate change.
Can't wait to read your posts!
~ daisy
The young couple sat quietly in the restaurant booth, on opposite sides of the table set for three. She kept looking out the window while he nervously fiddled with his iPhone. Any conversation was in short clipped sentences, even the serving girl could read the tension as she quietly asked again if they were ready to order.
“No.” The girl said, shaking her head as he stared petulantly at his phone, randomly skipping from one app to another like a nervous kid. The sun had set to the point where it was low on the horizon and shining straight into the window. A sound caught her ear, the low rumble of a powerful car coming into the parking lot. She could now see it out the window, a black convertible with the top down. It parked in front of the window, almost right in front of their table. By now her companion had noticed the car as well, and his fidgeting got even worse as he watched the man clamber out of the low slung sports car.
She watched him stretch out after his long drive. From their conversations she wasn’t sure what to expect. He seemed bigger in person than she expected, somehow more imposing than six feet tall would indicate. After stretching out, he dropped his leather jacket on the back seat and turned to walk into the restaurant. His strides were long an confident, no hesitation as he entered the seating area and waved over the waitress. She pointed to the young couple and he smiled and headed over after giving her a couple of orders that she quickly wrote down.
As he approached the table she felt a moment of panic. Unable to decide what to do, she slid over to make room for him and without hesitation he plunked himself down beside her. “Hello Katie, it’s good to finally meet you.” He said, leaning forward and kissing her cheek. She blushed as his hand rested comfortably on her thigh and his lips slid back to her ear, whispering. “You look wonderful.”
On the other side of the table, her companion cleared his throat, looking both annoyed and nervous at the same time. “Umm, Greg, this is my husband, Jeff.” Greg looked over at him with a cool and almost blank expression. Jeff tried to meet his gaze, but after a few moments broke the stare and looked away. At that moment the waitress arrived with a couple of drinks, giving a momentary reprieve from the tension that had suddenly grown. “I took the liberty of ordering for you sweetie.” Greg said with a smile. They picked up their drinks and exchanged a toast, while Jeff looked on, his scowl deepening. Greg looked back to him, and again Jeff lost the nerve to challenge him.
“Jeff, you seem to have a bit of an attitude problem.” Greg said casually. “Let me explain this for you, so we are clear.” Jeff sat stiffly, looking down at his hands that fiddled nervously with his phone. “It’s quite simple, you will behave, do as you are told, and be a good boy. If you don’t, we’ll leave you behind. I’m sure I can find many things to do with your wife without you being around moping and scowling.” Greg slipped his fingers under her skirt, teasing her thigh with his rough skinned fingertips.
“Are we clear?” Greg asked. Jeff paused, his mouth set in pout. Inside his heart was racing, fear and doubt unmanning him. “Yes, I understand.”
“Good, because if you try and ruin your wife’s good time…I have no patience for that. Understood?”
“Yes.” The answer came more quickly this time. The pattern was set, he could almost physically feel his cock shrinking as he watched his wife flirt with this arrogant stranger. They sipped their drinks, touched, explored, as he watched silently.
The waitress returned, and Greg ordered for all of them. Jeff started to make his order, but Greg cut him off with a wave. He grinned at the waitress. “The gentleman will have the kids hamburger and a milkshake, vanilla.” She winked back at him, obviously this was part of what he had told her when he came in. Jeff blushed bright pink at the insult, but said nothing as Greg calmly sipped his drink and looked over at him.
Greg and Katie slipped into conversation, talking more comfortably as the meal progressed. Jeff’s food came first, and the waitress giggled as she put it in front of him, making him blush again. Greg motioned her over, whispering in her ear and making her descend into another fit of giggles as she walked away. The meal passed quickly, Greg giving Katie bites of his steak, the prime red blooded pieces that packed the most flavour. Her giving him samples of the delicate fish that he had ordered for her.
As the dishes were cleared away, the grinning waitress brought out a banana split for Jeff, putting it down in front of him with a giggle. “Well Jeff, it’s time for us to go.” He put a piece of paper down on the table in front of Jeff, with a phone number on it. “When you finish that and pay the bill, call me. The waitress will make sure that you have finished your dessert before you’re allowed to leave the table. Do you understand?” Jeff looked like he was about to stand, but Greg stared him down with his steady calm gaze and Jeff slumped back down.
Offering a hand to Katie, they headed for the door. She liked his presence, how he moved and the firmness of his body. As they walked out to the convertible she marveled at how easily she had gone along, no consideration of not going with him. It just seemed like that was never an option she should consider. He opened the door for her, helping her settle down into the low car. The black leather seats were warm from the sun, a nice contrast to the chilling air. He climbed in, comfortable and familiar in the stark German interior.
As he started the car, he leaned over to Katie. “Give me your panties.” It wasn’t a question, but it wasn’t exactly an order either. The tone was reasonable, it seemed like a natural thing to do. As she reached down and hiked up her skirt, she felt her body respond. Arousal, in a rush of understanding and implication. She handed over the panties and he took them with a smile. “Thank you sweetie.”
She could see Jeff staring out the window, his face downcast as he watched them leave. Cruelly, Greg held up her panties, hooking them on the mirror and making sure that Jeff got a good look at them. Katie could see the waitress standing behind him, also looking out. She felt heat in her cheeks as she blushed, realizing that it was quite obvious to anyone what was going on. They drove away, the cool rush of the wind easing her mind. He took the panties off with a chuckle. “I know it’s tacky, but it had a great effect on him. Put them in your bag, you won’t be needing them.”
With a laugh she pushed them into her little purse and leaned back as the road rushed by and they tackled the windy coastal highway. His hand rested on her thigh between shifts as they sprinted through the corners, slowly working its way up until her bare pussy was uncovered and exposed. She parted her legs unconsciously, almost lifting her hips in eager anticipation of his fingers. But he was patient, fingers circling, teasing, but never touching her sex.
After a few minutes of driving, his phone rings. He pulls over as he answers.
“Are you finished everything? Are you sure? Mhmm. Put the waitress on. Yes. Now. Thank you.” Greg winks at Katie as he waits. “Did he finish it? Oh really. Tell him to drink that part out of the bottom. Thank you.” He waits for an answer from the other end. “Perfect, thank you sweetie, you’ve been a huge help. Yes his wife is here with me. I know, he’s not very happy about it is he? There’s a surprise for you at the front counter that I left. Call me later. Yes, tell him to call me after he has paid the bill, not before.” He hangs up, turning to Katie. “Spread your legs honey.”
Katie leans back, opening her legs as he snaps a quick picture with his phone. Before long, it rings. “You did as you were told? Good boy. Now, I’m sending you something. Call me back when you get it.” Greg hits send on the picture, he already has Jeff’s email from the communications they had to setup this meeting. He fires up the car and they roar off, belting down the windy road until they reach a small exit that leads down to the beach. Carefully he navigates it, easing the low car over the bumps and holes in the old gravel road.
As they reach the bottom, the phone rings. “You got it? Good. Wait there, I will call you back.” Greg hangs up and opens the door, walking around to help Katie up. He gets a blanket out of the trunk, takes her hand and walk out onto the deserted beach. They kick of their shoes, leaving them behind as they get into the soft powdery sands. He lays the blanket out far enough from the water to not get wet, but close enough to feel it’s cool mist as the waves languidly crash further out. He takes her in his arms, kissing her slowly and deeply, moving his body against hers.
“Romantic setting isn’t it?”
“Yes.” She said, eyes locked on his. “But we are not here for romance, are we?” He says as he pushes her gently but firmly to her knees on the blanket. “Undo my pants girl.” Quickly she complies, licking her lips as she fumbles with the thick leather belt, finally freeing it and pulling the buttons free on the old button-fly jeans. Without hesitation she pulls his pants down, leaving him standing there in his loose black boxer shorts that outline and hint at what lies beneath.
“Go ahead sweetie, I know you want to see.” With a wicked grin she pulls the boxers down, revealing his dark thick cock, hanging heavily in front of a pair of large balls. She sucks in her breath, eyes widening. “I love it.” She said with a smile, leaning forward and kissing the dark smooth skin. She heard the snap of his camera as he lips touch his cock.
“Call me when you get the next picture, and I will tell you where to find us. Yes, it’s sent already.” He runs his fingers into her hair, the gorgeous red locks glinting in the fading light. There was no way he could turn down this offer, despite the long distance and flighty husband. This girl was gorgeous. The phone rang as she opened her mouth and wrapped her lips around the girth of the fat cock head. “Nice picture isn’t it? Yes, she’s sucking me now. She’s very pretty, and she is even more beautiful with a real man’s cock in her mouth. We’re at the #25 exit for the beach, of the coast highway. You know it? Good. Better hurry, or we might change our minds.”
He ended the call and tossed the phone on the blanket. “Are you ok sweetie?”
“Oh yes, this is exactly what I wanted. I feel so alive. And wet.” He watched as she took him back into her warm wet mouth, working herself up and down on his thickening phallus. He grew to full size, his long thick cock standing proudly at attention as she eagerly took as much as she could in her mouth. The dark skin glistened in the half light as her saliva coated it. In the background she could hear the crunching of gravel as her husband’s minivan scampered down the hill, creaking to a stop beside the bull’s convertible. She felt her stud begin to fuck her mouth with his veiny cock, her attention caught between knowing her husband was walking up behind her, and the insistent cock pounding her mouth.
She could feel him behind her, close enough to touch, but a void was now between them. “She has a wonderful mouth, doesn’t she?” Jeff mumbled something in reply that made her bull laugh. “Undress, boy.” Greg pulled his rigid cock from her mouth, she licked her lips, eager to spend more time with this gorgeous cock.
Greg moved over to stand beside her now nude husband, his dark skin and thick proud erection in stark contrast to Jeff’s small pale circumcised cock that peeked out of a nest of brown pubic hair. “So Katie, which cock do you want?” Greg grinned at her as Jeff stared openly at her stud’s huge hard cock. Katie smirked back. “Hmm, I don’t know. I mean, it’s hard to decide between a flaccid little dickie and a big hard mans cock isn’t it?” They laughed as Jeff visibly cringed.
“What do you want sweetie?” Greg asked with a smile. “I want to suck your cock until you cum, then I want you to give me a real fucking with that thing.”
“Mmm, good thinking, but we have something for Jeff first.” Greg reached down and grabbed his pants, fishing something out of his pocket. It was a little pink bow on a small rubber ring. “That little dickie needs some decoration, don’t you think?” He handed the cock ring to her, and she reached out to pull her sissified husband towards her. The ring slipped easily over the head, making him look even more pathetic with the bright yellow bow shouting to the world, ‘here lies a pathetic cock’. Katie giggled as she gave his little cock a kiss.
“Stop playing with the kid stuff sweetie, I want your beautiful mouth.” With a smile Katie complied, working her mouth down as far as she could on what was rapidly becoming her favourite cock. Using her hand she stroked him fast and hard, fingers not quite reaching around the girth of his swollen meat. He groaned and thrust into her mouth, steadying himself with a hand on Jeff’s shoulder as he fucked his wife’s mouth. Faster and faster she stroked and sucked, loving the feeling of his cock filling her mouth and pushing her limits into her throat.
He couldn’t last, the anticipation and perfection of the scene driving him over the edge as he erupted into her mouth. Long streams of his cum pumping into her, more than she could swallow and it ran down her chin and dripped onto her summer dress. Jeff watched in horror as his wife eagerly kept pumping the spewing cock, making cooing noises as she drank what she could, and let the rest spill out in a mess. Greg squeezed his shaft, dropping the last drops of cum onto her extended tongue before stepping back. “Kiss her.” He ordered.
Jeff blanched, looking like he wanted to run, disappear, or burrow under the sand. Greg put his hand on Jeff’s shoulder, forcing him to his knees. “Kiss your pretty wife.” Katie didn’t wait for Jeff to make up his mind, she leaned forward and grabbed his shoulders, giving him a long deep kiss and pushing her cum covered tongue into his mouth. Greg moved back closer as she finished the kiss, hanging his semi hard cock in front of Katies mouth, and right in Jeff’s view as he kneeled there, powerless.
He felt his stomach turn from the combination of the cum in his mouth, and the up close view of his beloved wife taking this stranger’s big cock into her sensual mouth. With impotent rage he watched as this bull’s cock grew and hardened as she eagerly sucked and stroked it, her other hand busy fingering her obviously wet pussy. His rage turned to despair as he realized that he could not compare to this, that he could never satisfy her in this way. She would never look at his cock with the obvious need and passion that she had now.
Greg pulled out of her mouth, fully erect and ready. “Get on your hands and knees please sweetie.”
“Ooh, with pleasure baby.”
“Jeff, come here.” Greg had crouched down behind Katie, his cock bobbing each time he moved as he eyed her beautiful little pussy. Jeff slowly moved over, kneeling beside them. “Take my cock in your hand boy. Don’t be shy, it won’t bite.” Jeff visibly quivered as his hand slowly reached out to grasp the thick cock. “Good boy, now line it up with her pussy.” Greg lowered himself slowly as Jeff pointed the fat plum head at his wife’s little slit. “Your wife is going to fuck my big cock, and she’s going to love it.” Jeff groaned as he watched the dark skinned head push against his wife’s opening.
“Oh god Greg, I’m going to cum fast.” Katie said, biting her lip as he pushed harder against her slit. With a strong thrust, he forced himself into her incredibly tight opening, Jeff’s hand caught at the point of penetration, unable to bring himself to move it as the thick cock pushed into his wife, stretching her out more than he had ever seen or imagined.
Within seconds he could feel her climax, body tensing as she shouted out joyfully and bucked against the bull mounting her from behind. As she came Greg thrust deeper, driving his cock into her in long powerful strokes. Jeffs hand was mashed between his wife’s pussy and the stud’s pelvis each time he slammed into her. He realized he was hard, his little cock twitching each time he felt the big cock slide between his fingers into Katie’s soaked cunt. When she came again, lost in her haze of pleasure, he felt the ache in his balls just before he sprayed his cum onto his wife’s thigh. The sights and sounds were driving him wild, watching the dark skinned cock glistening with her juices pounding into her spread open pussy. The sound of her squealing and moaning with pleasure as he used her.
Greg looked down at him, noticing that he’d cum on himself. “Look Katie, he’s cum already and he hasn’t even touched his cock.” Katie looked back at him, laughing. “Aww, poor boy, good thing I have you here to give me a real fucking.” Chuckling, he slid his cock out and smacked her ass. “On your back girl.” Ignoring Jeff, they continued their fun as she lay back and spread her legs wide, and he slapped his cock head on her swollen sensitive clit. Each time she gasped in pleasure, back arching, hips lifting up in an appeal to have his cock back inside her. Soon he gave her what she wanted, sliding into her flushed slit and starting to fuck her hard and fast. Jeff watched as his lovely wife was slammed mercilessly, here on this beach they had visited so many times as a couple.
Shamed and unsure what to do with himself, Jeff sat beside them and gawked. He lost count of how many times she came, watching mesmerized as he wanked himself, forgotten as they fucked. Finally the bull started to grunt and moan, pistoning his cock into her until finally he blew his load deep into her soaking wet pussy. He kept pumping slowly as the heavy load of hot cum started to leak out, savouring the feel of her raw, well used pussy gripping his spent cock. Finally he pulls out, sitting back to admire his handiwork. He grinned at Jeff. “I think she’s happy now.” Jeff looked at his wife, her legs spread open, raw wet pussy open wide and leaking this stranger’s cum. Her eyes were closed, mouth smiling, her long red hair spread out in a fan on the blanket.
“Now boy, clean her up.” Jeff looked at him in horror. “No.”
“Yes you will. Or you’ll be walking home. I have your keys, and your clothes.” Jeff realized that as he was watching his wife, Greg had already dressed and was holding his keys. “Come on, all of it.”
Reluctantly he kneeled between Katie’s legs, bringing his mouth to her sensitive sex, almost gagging the first time as he licked her and a thick wad of cum coated his tongue. But his wife responded to it, moaning deep and long from the sensation of his tongue. Encouraged, he started to clean her, surprised as she reached down and grabbed his head, pushing it into her pussy, wanting more. “Oh fuck baby, eat me.”
Greg chuckled as he dropped the keys to the van and walked away, picking up his shoes on the way to his car. He opened the door, and sat down while he knocked the sand off his feet and shoes. As he put them back on, his phone rang. The waitress was off shift and waiting for him.
He took a last look out on to the beach where the couple were lost in their moment, barely visible as it got darker. The car came to life, rumbling it’s deep bass line as he pulled away and left them to their pleasures.
The Amazon Conduit will be working again on October 15, 2009. Thank you to everyone for your patience.
Have a great weekend,
daisy, Team Vox
In my last Team Vox post, I let you know that we're aware that the Amazon conduit is broken and that we're working to fix it. Many of you want to know when it's going to be fixed and I'm so sorry I haven't gotten back to you about that sooner.
Unfortunately, I don't have an exact date to give you, but rest assured, the Amazon conduit will be fixed in the coming weeks.
In the meantime, I'm about to finish my latest book and I could use a few suggestions as to what to read next, so... if you don't mind, let me know in the comments what's on your nightstand and/or what book you think I absolutely must read next.
Thanks! :)
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