A strange order from L.A. – and a big surprise

We actually received an order from LA two years ago with a strange shipping address*1. As it turned out when we asked questions, it was a film studio and the customer said they needed the “Private Euphoria” for the set of a new TV series.
Of course, we thought to ourselves, they’ll order a thousand things and in the end most of them won’t be used anyway. But it’s still great that they found us at all – and that they like our “Private Euphoria” love swing.
And then suddenly, complete madness: Rob who is from the USA and owns one of our “Private Euphoria” love swings, reported to us very excitedly that he had seen the “Private Euphoria” (the insider tip amongst the love swings from this small swing-maker from Switzerland) on TV! His wife had called him in great excitement- they could not believe their eyes!

…. and Yvonne and I are now over the moon and can’t quite believe it yet!

Ok, but let’s start at the beginning…..

The first viral sex tape of the world

Anyone who comes from the same era as us (Ahem!) will surely remember the huge scandal back when the internet was just starting out.

At the time, the first leaked sex video and “the world’s first viral video” was sold illegally over the Internet; it featured intimate, passionate sex scenes with, amongst others, actress Pamela Anderson (the Baywatch icon) and Motley Crew drummer Tommy Lee.

The series “Pam & Tommy” – and the “Private Euphoria”

Now Hulu has made a series about it, which appears on Disney+ (What?!!).

«Pam & Tommy» is about the turbulent relationship between Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee in the 90s, the theft of their private sex tapes and the subsequent legal battle.

It all starts when Tommy has a huge love nest complete with spa, built in his villa and all designed around a love swing (we won’t say anymore).
And already in the first episode of the series, Tommy strolls – half-naked and straight out of the bedroom – through the construction site area of his future love nest and examines the love swing, which apparently already hangs there as a central reference point for the craftsmen:

Tommy Lee with his sexswing

His only dry comment is: “I like it”.

Yvonne and I are still completely blown away and speechless, we are almost bursting with pride.

We, the little unknown love swing makers from Switzerland… Wow!

Those are the small rewards and moments of success in life that make you think “it was worth it after all”.

Do we perhaps have a secret fan amongst the creators of «Pam & Tommy»?

Or is there such a thing as karma and that we are being rewarded for the countless nights and long weekends on which we gave everything for LONESOME DRAGON?

Who can say? … In the meantime, we’ll just open the champagne and celebrate this small success.

Heartfelt greetings from Weisslingen, Switzerland

Your tireless love swing makers
Wolfgang & Yvonne

*1)
Eine eigene lustige Story… Um Rückläufer zu vermeiden, prüfen wir vor allem bei Überseebestellungen bei ungewöhnlichen Adressen o.ä. kurz nach. Hier fand sich unter der angegebenen Hausnummer eine Papierfirma. Nun ja, warum nicht, auch dort braucht es für zufrieden Mitarbeiter ja Liebesschaukeln. Auf deren Website wurden wir aber doch stutzig. U.a. sehr seltsame Mailadressen; der Buchhalter beispielsweise hat “whatdoesaccountingmean@dundermifflin.com”…

Und bei unter “über uns” heisst es:

«…Our company is based on service and quality since the day it was made in 1949. Started in Scranton, Penn., we only use quality redwoods for its paper. some people may say,” You’re ruining the environment!” We just smile and give them a stack of paper…»

Nun war unsere Neugier definitiv geweckt… und bei den Google Bewertungen gingen uns dann die Augen über. Von Kopiergeräten, die aus dem Fenster fliegen bis zu wilden Polizeijagden. Oder die begeisterte 5-Sterne Bewertung: “the sales men Andy tried to kiss me”.

Wir dachten schon, wir hätten die Peilung gänzlich verloren, aber des Rätsels Lösung war dann – und Amerikaner oder Serienjunkies wären bestimmt nicht drauf reingefallen – dass es die betreffende Firma “Dunder Mifflin” nur in einer Serie “The Office” gibt; was mussten wir lachen!

Und an der selben Adresse befinden sich natürlich – in der richtigen Welt – die Filmstudios. Nur hatte unser Besteller diese in der Bestellung gar nicht namentlich erwähnt, sondern nur den Namen einer Person und diese Adresse (zudem noch als abweichende Lieferadresse) angegeben – weshalb wir überhaupt erst nachgeprüft hatten.

Ja, mit LONESOME DRAGON wird es einem nie langweilig, ha ha!

(c) 2022 LONESOME DRAGON

Retire from the office – not the bedroom

Sex should be one of life’s best enjoyments…

…and just like you, it gets better with age. It’s important not just for pleasure, but also for maintaining mental and physical fitness as well as quality of life.

Life in the bedroom can become even more fulfilling as you get on in years. You’re more familiar with your needs and your body, meaning you know exactly “how it should be done.”

But as we age, sex becomes more challenging because of body aches and loss of muscle tone. One of the most common reasons people curtail or forgo sexual activity is physical illness. For instance, some may fear the threat of a heart attack or stroke. Afflictions such as arthritis can cause otherwise pleasurable activities to be painful. And of course, aging just generally takes a toll on our bodies: loss of strength and flexibility, chronic conditions, and surgeries can make the logistics of sex difficult or even impossible.

Over the hill…where the best sex is

The golden years: an era of life we all look forward to. We imagine being able to enjoy the fruits (wink wink) of our labor. We envision that retirement will allow us to travel, enjoy our hobbies, volunteer, and spend time with our families.

However, talk about our golden years often leaves out one essential element: our sexuality as seniors.

So wherein lies the issue?

According to a study conducted by Aging & Mental Health, the older population still faces a stigma surrounding sexuality. Syme and Cohn write, “In Western society, sex is for the young, beautiful, healthy… In contrast, sex among older adults is seen as shameful, disgusting, laughable, and nonexistent, which can lead to internalized stigma and increased sexual problems for older adults.”

The stigma surrounding sex among seniors isn’t just problematic in terms of what we see reflected in the world around us. The implied disdain can prevent older folks from discussing their sexual health with medical professionals, putting this group at greater risk for sexually transmitted infections. It can also lead to embarrassment that keeps this population from asking for advice on how to fully enjoy their sex lives.

Is sex important for the sexagenarian?

Full sexual expression is a vital part of human fulfillment. This fact doesn’t change with age or physical ability. Old and young alike desire to feel connected to their partners and to benefit from the mental and physical benefits of a happy sex life.

It’s undeniable that aging brings new challenges to our bodies, but sex can – and should – still be part of our lives even as seniors.

Sex can be one of the best things in life even for seniors

Openly discussing sexuality as it pertains to these populations is vitally important, as older folks can face practical challenges to fully enjoying sex.

The New England Journal of Medicine reports that men and women in poor health struggle with sexual activity and tend to shy away from discussing their sex lives with their doctors. But here’s the good news: The benefits of sex are scientifically proven, so there are now more solutions than ever to make sex accessible for those who’ve gotten long in the tooth. Many of these solutions have proven equally helpful for people with physical limitations.

One device that brings a fulfilling sex life back into the bedroom for these groups is the sex swing, just like our Private Euphoria.

The Private Euphoria – helping seniors and people with physical limitations have great sex

The Private Euphoria luxury sex swing is an indispensable aid for having sex with all the fun and all the comfort…not the physical effort or aches and pains. It’s a floating chair that transports you to another world – one of freedom and satisfaction.

Washington University’s Rehabilitation Research and Training Center published a factsheet on sex for those who are aging with a disability. Their findings included the benefit of assistive devices in overcoming the pain and fatigue that accompany physical limitations.

Our sex swing is the perfect “bedroom toy” for comfortable sex without straining, making it especially perfect for seniors and for those with mobility issues.

Intimacy Support Glider – sexual aid for seniors and golden agers

The swing’s breathable, extra-thick padding guarantees constant comfort. It also facilitates exploring different positions without causing a flare-up of back or joint pain. The cushion’s mesh fabric is durable and easy to clean, and it can stand up to liquids.

The comfy footrests are extra large so they can slide all the way up to the thighs to distribute your body weight for both comfort and stability.

To top it off, installation is quick and easy, and our single-point suspension won’t destroy your ceiling. And if you’re working with a small space, no worries: Our sex swing can also be used as living room seating – it’s that subtle (and you even can easily remove the “telltale” footrests)!

Some final thoughts

Sex is not just for the young, nor is it just for the healthiest among us. It’s meant to be enjoyed at every age and by every body type.

We’re lucky to live in a time when sex positivity is at an all-time high and the need for assistive devices for sex is finally being recognized.

Sex swings are no longer taboo – they’re finally starting to be seen as an important and beneficial tool for those who want to have the time of their life, no matter where they are within it.

We are always incredibly touched by the feedback we hear from seniors who have found new satisfaction, fun, and fulfillment in sex and a discovered a newfound quality of life with our swings.

So when will we be hearing from you?

Sources

Lindau, S. T., Schumm, L. P., Laumann, E. O., Levinson, W., O’Muircheartaigh, C. A., & Waite, L. J. (2007). A study of sexuality and health among older adults in the United States. The New England journal of medicine, 357(8), 762–774. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa067423

Gott, M., & Hinchliff, S. (2003). How important is sex in later life? The views of older people. Social science & medicine (1982), 56(8), 1617–1628. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0277-9536(02)00180-6

University of Washington. (2016). Aging with a Disability: Tips for Your Sex Life [Factsheet]. Aging Well with a Physical Disability Factsheet Series. Healthy Aging & Physical Disability RRTC, http://agerrtc.washington.edu

Syme, M. L., & Cohn, T. J. (2016). Examining aging sexual stigma attitudes among adults by gender, age, and generational status. Aging & mental health, 20(1), 36–45. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2015.1012044

Now get your swing right away here:

Directly to the Private Euphoria sex swing

Or learn more about sex swings here:

14 pros of the sex swing PRIVATE EUPHORIA

The sensual sensation – why buy a sex swing

What are sex swings?

Do you need a sex swing? Why you want to have a sex swing

(c) 2023 LONESOME DRAGON

That’s one hell of a love swing fail. But it can also lead to serious injuries. A fall and an impact with the back or head on a hard floor can end in a wheelchair or even worse.

We are sometimes asked why we offer a ceiling mount with four huge screws, although purely mathematically a simple “normal” 10-12 mm hook or a corresponding concrete anchor should do the job as well.

The reason for this is that we don’t know the conditions in your case, the fact that the load-bearing capacity also has a lot to do with the ceiling itself and whether the anchor was screwed in well.

Further it is physically in such a way that an “accelerated mass” gets a multiple of it’s normal weight; thus if now for example someone with a weight of 80 kg would jump around in the swing, the force acting on love swing and ceiling attachment would amount to several hundred kilograms (!).

These are all factors over which we have no control. Or what if there were a material defect? Maybe we are safety fanatics, but we just want to avoid the last bit of risk, so we also offer this massive mount (at the beginning we even thought about not offering a ceiling mounting at all because of liability reasons).

So happy swing and swing safe!

(c) 2021 LONESOME DRAGON

Our upholstery pad in synthetic leather

The respective advantages of leather and synthetic leather

In the meanwhile, the materials used for syntheticleather have developed to such an extent that the two materials have long since become visually indistinguishable from each other.

Gone are the days when you could tell from three meters away that a leather (or at least one of it’s components) was a plastic compound. In the meantime, artificial leather manufacturers have also succeeded in deceptively reproducing the natural grain structure of genuine leather.

But even if there is no longer any visible difference: which is better? Where are the differences?

Advantages of leather

Unlike synthetic leather, genuine leather has a much better reputation and is considered a high-quality and luxurious material. This can be especially important for items such as fashion or furniture, which are also often purchased for prestige.

One of the biggest advantages of leather, it is said, is its longevity and durability. With good care, leather products should last for decades and often even become more beautiful with age. At the same time, it is tear-resistant, robust and abrasion is low. That is why the comparatively high purchase costs can be more favorable in the long term than alternatives with artificial leather.

It should be noted, however, that modern microfiber leather with good quality can now not only compete with that of genuine leather, but real leather is even behind in terms of sensitivity to stains, scratches, etc. here.

Leather is more resistant to fire, while synthetic leather is relatively early flammable. Artificial leather would not survive a cigarette burn so well, and you can set it on fire with a standard lighter. With real leather, on the other hand, even a Bunsen burner comes up against its limits: even in the highest temperature ranges, it glows at best – but stinks terribly.

Leather can also definitely score points when it comes to breathability and water permeability – these advantages can only be offered by genuine leather (in many areas, however, water impermeability is more desirable, which then speaks more in favor of synthetic leathers).

We are not sure if this is really true in general, but it is said that leather is more skin-friendly and its texture is perceived by many people as more pleasant than artificial leather.

Conclusion: Real leather is definitely valuable, but we see the big advantage of real leather in its nimbus; a kind of magic, luxury and quality as well as naturalness surrounds the leather. Although on the one hand perhaps more durable than synthetic leather, it is also more sensitive and needs to be well cared for so that it does not become brittle and unsightly for as long as possible.

Advantages of synthetic leather

Artificial leather offers several advantages over genuine leather. Especially the robustness of the imitation leather is to be emphasized here – claws, liquids and environmental influences can almost not harm the imitation leather.

Depending on the manufacturing process and the quality of the synthetic leather, it is almost indestructible. It neither changes its shape under strong mechanical impact, nor can it be pierced with normal force – except, of course, with the help of pointed objects. Genuine leather, on the other hand, loses its shape comparatively quickly, gives way under tension and dents when worn on one side.

Synthetic leather is very easy to maintain compared to real leather. This can simply be wiped with a damp cloth or briefly held under the tap.

Therefore, especially in the medical field, examination and treatment furniture is often made of it. Compared to genuine leather, the easy cleaning and the compatibility of chemical disinfectants is an enormous advantage. These would cause the upper color layer of genuine leather to dissolve or become brittle too quickly.

No wonder that motorcycle saddles, saddles of jet skis, which are under extreme stress, are usually made of artificial leather; sun and water would damage the leather too much.

Sensatec: – the artificial leather used by BMW

The same applies to cars; the automotive industry is probably the largest customer for artificial leather. After all, almost everything in a car can be pimped with imitation leather – whether seat covers, gearshift bags, folding roofs, headliners, steering wheels, dashboards or entire interior trims. Imitation leather is simply used everywhere in cars (very often also in combination with parts made of genuine leather, so that the equipment can still be marketed as “leather”). However, artificial leather is especially preferred over animal leather because of its robustness and ease of processing.

While with genuine leather you have to be careful that it doesn’t mold if there is too much moisture, with faux leather you can be sure that won’t happen.

However, it is often said that imitation leather cannot compete with genuine leather in terms of durability. However, this statement has only been true for the cheapest price segment for years – durability should no longer be an issue with modern and high-quality materials.

Last but not least: Faux leather is better for your karma. Unfortunately, real leather is not a “waste product” of meat production that is produced anyway, as you might think. Also, the processed end product “leather” is by no means an environmentally friendly “natural product”, but quite the opposite, an artificial product with a surprisingly large ethical and ecological “footprint” and highly contaminated with hazardous chemicals.

Here are some more links to the topic:

The Leather Industry

The top 5 myths about animal leather:

https://melinabucher.com/blogs/stories/leather-myths

Here are five things the global leather industry doesn’t want you to know:

https://www.peta.org.uk/blog/the-leather-industry-doesnt-want-you-to-see-this/

Shocking Abuse in Global Leather Trade:

https://www.peta.org.uk/features/global-leather-trade/

Leather: Animals Abused And Killed for Their Skins

(c) 2022 LONESOME DRAGON

Synthetic leather is not just a cheaper option to real leather, is already looks back on an amazingly long successful history and development. It is used everywhere where the stress is very high. With the third generation of artificial leather, the microfiber leather has now definitely taken at least an equal position at the side of the real leather (see also the article Genuine leather or synthetic leather?).

What is microfiber leather?

Nowadays, it is hardly possible for non-experts to distinguish genuine leather from good synthetic leather without destructive test procedures. Not only does it feel like real leather, but the grain and surface structure also make it almost impossible to tell the difference. In the case of high-quality microfiber leather, even the cut edges and reverse side look and feel like genuine leather.

Cut edges and reverse side look of microfiber leather

Microfiber leather is very durable and has antibacterial and anti-odor chemical properties. It is lightweight, more breathable than the former PVC synthetic leather and water repellent. Compared to leather, it is also a more environmentally friendly product that is easy to clean and requires little maintenance.

Microfiber leather is the abbreviation for microfiber polyurethane synthetic leather. It is third generation synthetic leather after PVC- and PU synthetic leather.

Top: Collagen fibers in genuine leather (left) and in synthetic replica (right). Bottom: Cross-section through a layer of genuine leather (left) and through the synthetic analog (right).

Microfiber leather consists of two parts, nylon microfiber and polyurethane, which are firmly bonded together.

In the structure of the ground layer, the ultrafine fibers are interconnected in three dimensions to act as a skeleton and support. They form a structure similar to dermal collagen fibers.

Polyurethane is distributed around the fibers, turning the entire synthetic leather base fabric into a functional whole. The many round, needle-shaped foam structures form a three-dimensional network.

The hair groove structure between them is offset and connected to form a fine permeable structure, so that the leather body has a certain breathability and moisture permeability.

The impressive history of synthetic leather

Synthetic leather embossed on camera 1930

Synthetic leather already has a considerable history of almost 200 years.

As early as 1830, canvases were coated with linseed oil mixtures into which a structure was embossed.

Around 1900, these materials were followed by new processes in which carrier fabric was coated with a covering compound based on cellulose nitrate and also embossed.

Pistol holster from World War II made with Pressstoff

Between 1900 and 1945, the so-called “Presstoff” produced in Germany and used throughout Europe was also popular; a specially treated and coated paper pulp.

Although this sounds quite bizarre, this material was actually very popular during the Second World War. It was used for horse harnesses, belts, holsters and much more.

Many other products were developed in the first half of the last century, such as “Naugahyde” or DuPont’s “Fabrikoid,” a cotton cloth coated with nitrocellulose. This was already used extensively in the 1920s for car seat covers as well as in the tops of convertibles.

Patent synthetic leather “Fabrikoid” by DuPont 1920

In the middle of the 20th century, materials with a PVC (polyvinyl chloride) top layer became increasingly popular, before these were replaced by PU (polyurethane) coated materials and microfiber leather, especially in the higher-priced segment.

Microfiber leather properties

Depending on the manufacturing process and the quality of synthetic leather, it is almost indestructible. It neither changes its shape under strong mechanical impact, nor can it be pierced with normal force – except, of course, with the help of pointed objects. Genuine leather, on the other hand, loses its shape comparatively quickly, gives way under tension and dents when worn on one side.

Synthetic leather is easier to maintain than real leather and is less sensitive to stains. The synthetic leather can simply be wiped with a damp cloth or cleaned with a little soap and a sponge (but see also the last section “Care”).

Sustainability

When comparing the life cycle assessment of genuine leather with synthetic leather made from PU compounds, the imitation performs significantly better. By dispensing with animal products, the production of synthetic leather causes only about half the CO2 emissions. In addition, water consumption, use of toxic chemicals and production waste are significantly lower than for animal leather.

PU is also the clear winner in comparison to PVC-coated fabrics, which contain toxic plasticizers. So for fans of leather a real alternative – completely without animal suffering. Since the imitation is also free of other animal materials, such as wool, felt, silk or animal glues and dyes, these products are also suitable for vegans.

Polyurethane is a plastic – and therefore still not ideal in terms of sustainability. Compared to genuine leather, however, it is significantly more environmentally and climate friendly. Consumers also set an example against working conditions in the production countries and don’t have to worry about chromate residues on the skin.

Maintenance and care

Synthetic leather, although less than leather, is sensitive when it comes to sun exposure, so please protect from continuous direct sun.

As with genuine leather, sweat, skin grease, creams and some oils and lubricants attack the synthetic leather in addition to the sun. If these residues are not removed, the synthetic leather becomes brittle. It should therefore always be wiped with a damp cloth after use and briefly rubbed dry to prevent signs of wear.

For further care, it must be noted that synthetic leather should not be treated like conventional leather. Care substances such as leather grease would not be absorbed, but remain on the surface as an unsightly smear film.
Therefore, there are special care products, which you can additionally use from time to time to keep your synthetic leather as long as possible beautiful. These agents usually consist of sets with a cleaner and a sealer or impregnator.
The cleaner helps to dissolve dirt and thus clean the surface. A sealer is applied to the synthetic leather and prevents dirt and abrasion from settling on it.

There are countless products for this in the regional retailers, which is why we refrain here from selective mentions or advertising. We only refer as a suggestion and example to the products of this supplier, which also has products for the repair of minor damage to synthetic leather in the range (these products are available in most countries of the world):

https://www.colourlockaustralia.com.au/tip/furniture/imitation-leather.html

(c) 2022 LONESOME DRAGON