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More Blockbusters, as DeeJay joins TK, Hedgie and Eeve3 in the studio as Xavier is off being very ill and infecting everyone with the plauge. Marvel at the chaos and fun as we attempt to get through some segments without Xavier there to keep us in check. In Blockbuster this week TK and Eeve3 team up as the Blue Team while DeeJay tries to save some face for the White Team after White's destruction at the hands of Salamander3 and Floating Lime last week. Aside from Eeve3 talking about the latest Zelda on the Wii, there was no Done and Dusted this week.. Starring TK, Eeve3, and DeeJay. TigerTails Radio - Season 6 - Episode 29 - Why Is IRC Dead?

submitted by gamerlen
[link] [2 comments]

Animal Farm is George Orwell’s 1945 classic novel.

Orwell is considered to be one of the great authors and Animal Farm, along with Nineteen Eighty-Four, is considered to be one of his masterpieces. It is about talking anthropomorphic animals that overthrow their human farmer master and run the farm on their own terms.

I recently re-read Animal Farm with the idea that I would review it for [adjective][species]. I was planning to conclude that it’s a great book, and a great furry book, and that all furries should read it.

I have re-read Animal Farm, but I’m not recommending it: don’t read Animal Farm. Read something else.

I don’t think that Animal Farm a furry book. Which got me thinking about what constitutes a furry book.

I’ll try to define what a furry book is later, but let’s look at Animal Farm first. It has many qualities that might make it attractive to a furry audience:

• Animal Farm is not complex or difficult to read. Its full title is “Animal Farm: A Fairy Story“, and it’s written in a very deliberate children’s storybook style. The writing is magical in its clarity, akin to Dr Seuss, J.K. Rowling or Philip K. Dick.
• Animal Farm is short: you can start and finish it in a single sitting. It took me a couple of hours.
• The animal characters are fully realized and easy to empathize with.
• Many furry readers will appreciate that the only romance in the book is homosexual, between Benjamin the donkey and Boxer the horse. In line with the writing style, the relationship is chaste and friendly, and would perhaps be better described as homosocial, a bit like Bert and Ernie of Sesame Street. Still, Benjamin and Boxer are devoted to one another and are inseparable to the point that they plan to retire together.

And yet I don’t think it’s a furry book.

Why? For starters, I think that furry is escapist by nature.

Furry books tend to embrace an alternate universe. Makyo touched on this is some detail in his Layers of Fantasy post earlier this year. He pointed out that furry art tends to exist in this context:

It is a sort of stacking of different layers of fantasy, with our focus on anthropomorphic animals being layered atop science fiction or fantasy elements.

Makyo goes on to point out that this isn’t a rule that applies to all furry art, and that the alternate-universe concept falls over when we furries socialize in the real world. But I think that furry does necessarily involve some disconnection from the real world, if only to accommodate our self-images as animal people. I understand that this point is arguable (and please do comment away).

I think that a real-life furry gathering is always different from a non-furry group. The alternate names; the blasé acceptance of ears and tails and fursuits; the non-traditional treatment of sexuality, and;- most importantly – the implicit acceptance that each of us are the being that we feel we are on the inside. I’m an anthropomorphic horse; RandomWolf is in a funny mood because there is a full moon; Bob is just a friendly human who likes Thundercats.

I think that furry books reflect the furry community, in that the community is disconnected from the real world. As furries, we want to escape – however marginally – from the real world. We create our own reality.

Animal Farm, despite its talking animals, exists firmly within the real world. It is allegorical, not fantastical. I wouldn’t recommend Bulgakov’s The Master & Margarita as a furry book either.

Animal Farm is an allegory of the Russian Revolution. It retells the story of Russia and the USSR from around World War I through to the last years of World War II. The primary porcine protagonists – Major, Napoleon and Snowball – are respective literal analogs for Marx, Stalin and Trotsky. Animal Farm is no fairytale: there is no redemption, no success. The farm, following revolutionary overthrow of the despotic Farmer Jones, charts a course back to corrupt dictatorship as straight as an arrow.

The children’s storybook language is key to the book’s power and testament to Orwell’s genius. The language primes us to expect and hope that our farm animals will earn themselves a better life through hope and struggle: we’ve read storybooks before. We expect conflict and dark times, but we also expect redemption or at least an engaging Brothers-Grimm-style grotesque coda. But there is no hope for our animals. They are as doomed under the pigs as they were under Farmer Jones.

As well as escapism, a furry book will often employ a literary device where species is shorthand for behaviour. (Cheetahs are fast; foxes are vain; bulls are strong.) This does occur in Animal Farm to an extent – for example we have a strong horse, a lazy cat, and a grumpy donkey – however like the characterization of the pigs, this is meant allegorically. That is, Orwell explores the fates of the Russian people against their (respectively for my three examples) loyalty, work ethic, and cynicism.

To put it more directly: Animal Farm doesn’t explore speciation as a philosophical idea in the way that a furry book does.

I wrote about Gulliver’s Travels a few weeks ago using this as the key “furry” idea. Swift’s rational horses and animalistic humans and are intended to disconnect our rational nature from our atavistic selves. In doing so, he asks us to consider what it means to be human, a question close to the heart of many furries (and, of course, [adjective][species]). I’d recommend Gulliver’s Travels to any furry interested in exploring the idea of identity.

Another example: The First Book of Lapism by Phil Geusz deals with the philosophical aspects of identity and species. Geusz imagines a world where people voluntarily transform themselves into bunny-people in the hope of creating a pacifist and highly-socialized race. Guesz’s books explore the consequences of this new race in an accessible alternate-universe manner. Speculative fiction isn’t personally my cup of furry tea, but Guesz’s works are well written and beloved by many.

Animal Farm is a work of genius and was a very important book when it was published in 1945. History is important, but the Russian Revolution is less relevant in our post cold-war world. And if a version of Animal Farm were published today as an allegory for conflict between the Western and Islamic worlds, I still wouldn’t recommend it as a furry book.

• Animal Farm by George Orwell is widely available for around £7. It is not available for download in the US. Recommended for furry European history buffs.
• The First Book of Lapism by Phil Geusz is available for £11.30 paperback / £3.22 pdf ebook. Recommended for furries who enjoy speculative fiction and/or bunnies.
• Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift is available to download for free from Project Gutenberg. Recommended for everyone.
• The Master & Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov is widely available in every format for around £5 or less. Recommended for anyone who has read the complete works of Fyodor Dostoevsky.

 

submitted by PawFox
[link] [8 comments]

A video article about VancouFUR, on the website of Canada's The Globe and Mail:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/life-video/video-bcs-vancoufur-convention/article2366346/

The video is taken from CTV News:
http://watch.ctv.ca/news/top-picks/suiting-up/#clip635998

submitted by SwiftTheFox15
[link] [comment]

Somethn’ nice happens for once and a raffle for it to boot! So 26 artists have teamed up for FFL (Furs Fur Life) which is doing a raffle drawing for the Red Cross. The details are simple, every $1 gets you into the drawing for a drawing (yeh I said it like that). Simply donate at THIS LINK and forward your reciept via e-mail to:  fursforlifefund@gmail.com . Details are here.

Post expires at 5:00pm on Sunday March 25th, 2012

http://www.furaffinity.net/view/7567436/ I have a limited time offer going on now! Read the description pleeeeease

ahaha shameless self promotion is fun

EDIT: sorry, no more for now! keep checking in on my profile now. or maybe you can bribe me if you can't wait. :B

submitted by wishingidiot
[link] [3 comments]

submitted by fevrier
[link] [6 comments]

Hey guys, I've been getting back into animating some wrestling moves in my spare time and I put it to my 2 fursonas. I hope to put them all together in the end and for it all to tell a match of sorts, thought you'd like to see!

BTW it's all very WIP (especially the environment, skinning and textures) but comments/feedback are always appreciated. :}

http://www.furaffinity.net/view/7518056 http://www.furaffinity.net/view/7522189 http://www.furaffinity.net/view/7565612 http://www.furaffinity.net/view/7566924

submitted by xandertheblue
[link] [3 comments]

submitted by TefLinghu
[link] [13 comments]

submitted by Blazeholden
[link] [comment]

This episode Roo & Elias, with their guests Space and Damon, discuss whether or not bronies are a part of the furry fandom.  They also talk about My Little Pony in general.   They also talk a good deal into copyright and  its' Fair Use.  Roo & Elias are exited to announce that the next episode will be recorded live at FurIdaho, a convention that they will be guests of honor at.  Make sure to come and join the fun! This episode's music is... RainbowCrash88 - At The Gala (8-Bit) Allevelsatonce - Winter Wrap Up (Electropop Remix) DJ Aelxs - Cutie Mark Crusaders Theme (Dubstep Remix) DavidLarsenM1 - My Little Portal Tara Smith - Twilight Liscious (Twit Voice) LINKS A Fair(y) Use Tale - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJn_jC4FNDo&feature=player_embedded Damon ASL - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcUUpYL0za8&feature=plcp&context=C41bf4baVDvjVQa1PpcFPHm6At5grNMd-970NTr-VQvKiul_d7rPo%3D Unthrocon Registration - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?hl=en_US&formkey=dG5QTkpMVGR5eERabi1XRjQ2UDM1RWc6MQ#gid=0 Tara Strong - https://twitter.com/#!/tarastrong The Levelator - http://www.conversationsnetwork.org/levelator Now Listen: Episode 11 – My Little Podcasters - This episode Roo & Elias, with their guests Space and Damon, discuss whether or not bronies are a part of the furry fandom.  They also talk about My Little Pony in general.   They also talk a good deal into copyright and  its' Fair Use.

Hey

So I decided to start doing commissions for my pixel art.. here's the commission sheet: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/7558838/

I want some input though, is it too overpriced maybe? Too underpriced? Yesterday I got my first commissioner who ordered a Minecraft skin and an icon so I came up with this: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/7559785 and this: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/7560178

She paid me and stuff, but didn't note me back and didn't even submit them on her profile like she did with her other commissions which gives me the impression she didn't like it. :T I know she was online too; since I saw a comment by her on something else that was made about a half hour ago. Edit: She just noted and thanked me

So with that, it kinda made me question whether people would want to buy from me or not.

EDIT: sorry, no more for now! keep checking in on my profile now. or maybe you can bribe me if you can't wait. :B

submitted by wishingidiot
[link] [15 comments]

submitted by captainbozo
[link] [4 comments]

submitted by KarlPilkington
[link] [4 comments]

In case you missed it, Archaia Entertainment have collected several of their comic book titles based on the work of Muppets creator Jim Henson into a series of hardcover full-color graphic novels. First up is Jim Hensons Dark Crystal, Creation Myths. From the pre-release publicity, this is  “an original graphic novel hardcover set one thousand years before the crystal cracked, before the world of Thra fell to strife and destruction. Original Dark Crystal movie concept designer Brian Froud will plot, provide the cover, design characters, and art direct.” The stories are by Brian Holguin, and the interior art is by Alex Sheikman and Lizzy John. Archaia have also collected Jim Henson’s The Storyteller in a hardcover volume, with stories written by Katie Cook and illustrations by a bevy of well-known artists. Up next is an original graphic novel based on Jim Henson’s film Labyrinth, which Archaia editor-in-chief Stephen Christy speaks about on their web site.

image c. 2012 Archaia Entertainment

So I'm very new in the whole art sense, and I decided I want to challenge myself with something that (hopefully) won't come out as an abomination. I can't promise the best work out there, but I can promise the best effort!

Basically, I'll be doing some pixel art requests. Give me a request or preferably a reference sheet. The more descriptive the better! Sorry if I can't get to every request, but I'll try my best!

submitted by Harke
[link] [7 comments]

In this episode of Shed, we find a hidden away radio podcast hosted by some furries in this small Shed. Using a weak cracked WiFi connection and a spliced 15amp power line, they maintain full interest from their loyal fans by mocking this TV documentary about Sheds in their episode description post.

Download MP3

News:

• Fur-friendly cafe Fernando’s to close before Anthrocon 2012 by Sonious
• Anthropomorphic researchers launch Winter 2012 survey
• TAKE NUKA’S SURVEY BELOW:
• https://sites.google.com/site/anthropomorphicresearch/
• Londonfurs Suspends Official Fursuit Walk
• Alan T. Panda convicted of trying to arrange sexual encounter with 15-year-old boy by Higgs Raccoon
• ‘Mushing Mortician’ gives mouth-to-snout CPR after dog collapses

E-mails:

• Malakite – “Question– older furs?”
• Wizerd – “(no subject)”
• Tyler – “I Can Haz Fursuit?…NO”
• Conri – “Music Tastes in the Furry Fandom”
• Anonymous – “question for tonights show??? I will be listening”
• Roku Nexen – “Religious Freedom at Church??”
• Anonymous – “Please keep this anonymous”
• Anne Mc Tire – “A Furry’s Way of Life”
• Azure Wane – “Hey! I have a question for the show. :D”

FC-77 Shed.mp4 - In this episode of Shed, we find a hidden away radio podcast hosted by some furries in this small Shed. Using a weak cracked WiFi connection and a spliced 15amp power line, they maintain full interest from their loyal fans by mocking this TV documentar...

In this episode of Shed, we find a hidden away radio podcast hosted by some furries in this small Shed. Using a weak cracked WiFi connection and a spliced 15amp power line, they maintain full interest from their loyal fans by mocking this TV documentary about Sheds in their episode description post.

Download MP3

News:

• Fur-friendly cafe Fernando’s to close before Anthrocon 2012 by Sonious
• Anthropomorphic researchers launch Winter 2012 survey
• TAKE NUKA’S SURVEY BELOW:
• https://sites.google.com/site/anthropomorphicresearch/
• Londonfurs Suspends Official Fursuit Walk
• Alan T. Panda convicted of trying to arrange sexual encounter with 15-year-old boy by Higgs Raccoon
• ‘Mushing Mortician’ gives mouth-to-snout CPR after dog collapses

E-mails:

• Malakite – “Question– older furs?”
• Wizerd – “(no subject)”
• Tyler – “I Can Haz Fursuit?…NO”
• Conri – “Music Tastes in the Furry Fandom”
• Anonymous – “question for tonights show??? I will be listening”
• Roku Nexen – “Religious Freedom at Church??”
• Anonymous – “Please keep this anonymous”
• Anne Mc Tire – “A Furry’s Way of Life”
• Azure Wane – “Hey! I have a question for the show. :D”

FC-77 Shed.mp4 - In this episode of Shed, we find a hidden away radio podcast hosted by some furries in this small Shed. Using a weak cracked WiFi connection and a spliced 15amp power line, they maintain full interest from their loyal fans by mocking this TV documentar...