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According to the Human Comics web site, “Gabriel Smith is a screenwriter from Venice Beach, California.  He is the founder of Human Comics, an independent comic book publisher, which was created as a platform for Smith to exhibit his writings for a cyberpunk sci-fi series entitled Human (aka Anthropocene: The Human Saga).” More recently though, Gabriel created a “children’s comedy comic” called Bacon & Sausage, illustrated in full color by Sara Varon. Well he describes it as a children’s comic — but it does seem to have a lotta harsh language and even, um, “body humor” for kids! Oh well, modern kids, it looks like!

Image c. 2016 Sara Varon

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Today the WagzTail crew ponders uniqueness in the fandom, and if having a unique character is actually important.

Metadata and Credits Original Character, Does Anyone Care?

Runtime: 41:03m

Cast: Path, Levi, Wolfin

Editor: Levi

Format: 196kbps AAC Copyright: © 2016 WagzTail.com. Some Rights Reserved. This podcast is released by WagzTail.com as CC BY-ND 3.0.

Original Character, Does Anyone Care? - Today the WagzTail crew ponders uniqueness in the fandom, and if having a unique character is actually important.

Today the WagzTail crew ponders uniqueness in the fandom, and if having a unique character is actually important.

Metadata and Credits Original Character, Does Anyone Care?

Runtime: 41:03m

Cast: Path, Levi, Wolfin

Editor: Levi

Format: 196kbps AAC Copyright: © 2016 WagzTail.com. Some Rights Reserved. This podcast is released by WagzTail.com as CC BY-ND 3.0.

Original Character, Does Anyone Care? - Today the WagzTail crew ponders uniqueness in the fandom, and if having a unique character is actually important.

Naked Jumping Jacks (Drake's Corner #3)
Still being harassed by anonymous users, Drake fends them off with lewd exercises and abnormal fetishes. SUBMIT QUESTIONS/DARES: https://ask.fm/theraccoonsden See more at: http://www.TheRaccoonsDe... From: The Raccoon's Den Views: 1954 26 ratings Time: 04:25 More in Entertainment

Millennials killed this podcast description. Want to support the show? We have our Patreon: www.patreon.com/knotcast - every bit helps! Episode 326 - Vagenda of Manocide

Submitted by Fred Patten

The 2015 Cóyotl Awards, presented by the Furry Writers’ Guild for four categories of the Best Anthropomorphic Literature of the 2015 calendar year, were recently announced at a presentation ceremony at the Rocky Mountain Fur Con in Denver, Colorado.

The winners and runners-up are:

Best Novel
Winner

• Barsk: The Elephant’s Graveyard by Lawrence M. Schoen (Tor Books, December 2015)

Runner-Up

• Forest Gods by Ryan Campbell (Sofawolf Press, September 2015)
• The Long Road Home by Rukis (FurPlanet Productions, July 2015)
• Rat’s Reputation by Michael H. Payne (Sofawolf Press)
• Windfall by Tempe O’Kun (FurPlanet Productions, July 2015)

Best Novella
Winner

• Koa of the Drowned Kingdom by Ryan Campbell (FurPlanet Productions, September 2015)

Runner-Up

• Losing My Religion by Kyell Gold (FurPlanet Productions, September 2015)

Best Short Story
Winner

• The Analogue Cat by Alice “Huskyteer” Dryden (in The Furry Future, ed. by Fred Patten; FurPlanet Productions, January 2015)

Runner-Up

• Bullet Tooth Claw by Marshall L. Moseley (in Inhuman Acts, ed. by Ocean Tigrox; FurPlanet Productions, September 2015)
• Muskrat Blues by Ianus J. Wolf (in Inhuman Acts, ed. by Ocean Tigrox; FurPlanet Productions, September 2015)

Best Anthology
Winner

• Inhuman Acts edited by Ocean Tigrox (FurPlanet Productions, September 2015)

Runners-Up

• The Furry Future edited by Fred Patten (FurPlanet Productions, January 2015)
• ROAR Volume 6 edited by Mary E. Lowd (Bad Dog Books, July 2015)

– Fred Patten

Recently at Comic Con we came across a new comic book company, Contraband Comics. Among the titles (or rather covers!) that caught our eyes was a new full-color one called Pugly, “A new comic book misadventure from writer Jon Goff (Destiny, Spawn) and artist Jim Hanna (Jack Rabbit)”. Meet Frank, a pug-dog whose only goal is to enjoy life in his huge palatial home with his loving elder mistress, Mother. Unfortunately that’s complicated when she passes away — and it only gets more complicated when she wills her entire vast fortune to him! As he explains, that’s just the beginning of Frank’s adventures in a much larger world. Take a look over at Contraband’s web site to learn more about him.

image c. 2016 Contraband Comics

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Dear Papabear,

I struggle with depression and am receiving help for it but wanted to ask you for advice about trying to change my increasingly pessimistic outlook in general.

While I've been aware of this thought process I possess for a long time now, I've struggled to change it in vain and still find myself naturally biased or focused to the negative. I think this really contributes to my mood often and has been making it harder to get motivated to do things, to feel good about myself, to trust others, and view the world in a positive way.

I would really appreciate any advice or help.

Yours,
Dyrk Prowler (age 20, Australia)
* * *
Hello, Dyrk,
 
Thank you for your letter and sorry for the delay in my reply. It would be helpful to me if you could give me a little personal history, especially if you have experienced tragedy, illness, death, or other events that may have led to your depression.
 
Hugs,
Papabear
 
* * *
Thank you for getting back to me, Papabear.

As for some history, I've been struggling with depression since about halfway through high school, since about age 14-15. Though it had been rather tidal experiencing ebbs and flows, events over the past few years influenced me to seek professional help; my grandfather's death, my once-best friend basically cutting me out of his life, a year of university which was not very good (I've dropped out), struggled and am still struggling to find steady employment, and being online friends with people I, upon reflection, should not have as they dropped and I don't know why they did.

Though I am not friendless (I do have friends good friends who’ve stood by me and supported me), and my family continues to support and care for me. I just can't seem to escape the negative thoughts that seem to be nagging at the back of my mind.  As for the help I've received, it has been a year of seeing a psychologist, following their instructions, and have been on anti-depressants for about 9-10 months.
 
Hopefully this what you were looking for.
 
* * *
This is helpful, thanks. If you feel comfortable with telling me, could you relate to me some of the things your psychologist has asked you to do? This will help me to not recommend something that's already been suggested.
 
Thanks,
pbear
 
* * *
 
Okay, we've mainly focused on the relationship of thoughts, feelings, and behavior. We have on done some thought analysis to try and identify the unfounded negative thoughts. So mainly general perspective things.
 
This is the main things I remember.
 
* * *
 
Hi, Dyrk,

Thanks for all the additional information. Negative thoughts and depression, while not the same thing, are often related, as in your case. If your therapist is saying your negative thoughts are “unfounded,” I think I see some problem with their not validating your emotions. That “unfounded” comment fails to recognize that there is always a cause for your feelings. That cause could be anything from biological imbalances to emotional and psychological issues to just having problems dealing with the tragedies and stresses of normal life.

When it comes to depression, you’ve come to the right place. From my attempted suicide at 18 to my divorce to the recent loss of my mate, I know what it is like to experience deep depression, sadness, and loss. I have read books, sought professional counseling, talked with friends who have experienced similar losses, and taken the antidepressants. I know about the five stages of grieving, and have discovered a couple others no one told me about.

Not to make light of your experiences of losing a grandfather, a friend, college life, and so on, but there are far worse things people endure in life and manage to survive. Naturally, these things that have happened to you can be depressing, but what you need now is to learn to keep things in perspective and to broaden that perspective.

Before I continue, I would like to note some things you can do to help yourself using diet and exercise because, when you think of it, depression and cynicism can be a physiological response to one’s environment. Here are some things that really help me and can help you as well:

• Avoid sugars—especially processed sugar—as much as possible; and especially avoid high fructose corn syrup, which is known to cause diabetes (I give a middle finger to food industry deniers on this one). Watch out, because they are trying to rename this substance to trick people.
• Avoid processed foods in general (boxed and canned) and eat fresh (frozen is not bad) foods as much as possible. Organic if you can (be cautious as there are no regulations as yet regarding strict labeling of what defines “organic.”
• Avoid alcohol (a powerful depressant) and drugs not prescribed by a doctor.
• Avoid anything with the artificial sweetener aspartame. Many doctors and American food industry shills will say that aspartame is harmless. I beg to differ. It is, actually, a form of neurotoxin, and I have seen its effects on people I know. Aspartame affects the mood, can cause panic and anxiety attacks, and in women has been shown to negatively affect menstrual cycles. It was, in fact, initially rejected by the FDA until, obviously, someone gave officials there enough money to approve it.
• Exercise regularly! Regular—especially cardio—exercise will not only improve your health it will also improve your mood. It doesn’t have to be excessively rigorous. Walking is great. Swimming is great. Tai chi is great, meditation too. You don’t have to run marathons.
• Reconnect to nature. Experiencing the wonders of a walk in the woods, the desert, along a coastline soothes the spirit and nourishes the soul. This includes interactions with animals. Do you have a pet? Having a dog or cat can really be a benefit.

​So, those things help the physiological side of depression and a sour attitude. Now let’s look at the more mental side of it.

Everyone faces challenges in their lives. Unless you die at a very young age (a tragedy in itself) you’re going to face loss, pain, and hardships in your life. This cannot be avoided. The key here is how you deal with bad events in your life after they have happened. This is not easy, and I will be the first person to tell you that. After about 10 months I am just getting to the point, after losing Jim, where I can console my heart by honestly saying how lucky I was to have him in my life at all, and I am grateful for the things he taught me and how he enriched my life. Yes, I would have loved it if he had stayed on Earth longer, but if he had to die young I am truly grateful that he spent those last years with me. I am a better person for his being in my life.

All clouds, as they say, can have a silver lining. You lost your grandfather, and that’s sad, but some people never get to meet their grandfathers, for one reason or another. His loss obviously hurt you, which means that you cared about him and will miss him. Think, then, of the blessing he was in your life.
Your friend abandoned you. Well, maybe he wasn’t such a good friend after all, then. You have noted that you have other friends who are still with you. Take this opportunity to appreciate their friendship, and let them know that you are happy you are friends; do something nice for them on occasion. And learn from what happened with the other guy. Think back on it; were their signs about how he acted that, in retrospect, were cues he wasn’t a worthy of friend? Make note of them and learn from that. The more you learn from friendships, both successful and not, the better friend you will be to others.

As for online friends, that’s a whole nuther kettle of fish. Most online friends would fall under what I categorize as “mere acquaintances.” It’s nice to chat with them and learn about them, but they don’t fall under true friend categories. Some do, of course. And those will usually be the ones with whom you hit it off so well that you will make the effort to meet them in person and strike up a more solid relationship.

In life, you will make friends, lose friends, make other new friends. That’s what happens. As the goombah would say, fuhgetabowdit.

Okay, on to your college efforts. After a year, you dropped out. Were you attending a four-year school? Maybe that’s just not for you. You don’t have to attend university to get some further education that can be useful in a job. Take a step back and think about what you would really like to do with your life. Perhaps it is something where you can go to a technical school or a two-year college, or become an apprentice to a tradesman of some kind, and afterwards find perfectly good employment. Many people go to a four-year school because they feel it is expected of them. They spend two or more years just taking classes that don’t interest them, fulfilling core requirements, not really getting inspired.

Instead of worrying about school, take some time to think harder about what you really enjoy doing, then make your plans accordingly. They may or may not involve a bachelor’s or graduate degree, and that doesn’t matter. What does matter is finding your passion. There are many successful people out there who don’t have a college diploma.

By always focusing on the negative in life, you create a feedback loop that worsens the problem. It is like rolling a pea down a snowy hill and creating a massive snowball capable of leveling a town. The way to stop that is to not place the pea on the hill at all. Start counting your blessings and thinking about what is good in your life and try to make that your feedback loop. One way to help with this is to stop watching TV news (if you do so) because it is designed to make you feel scared so that you will watch more TV news, including the ads.

Another thing to note: don’t worry about the things you can’t change and focus on only those things you can. And don’t overwhelm yourself by thinking of all the things you need to do at one time. Tackle one problem at a time. Live in the present. Depressed people often live too much in the past; anxious people worry too much about the future. The present is the only certainty we have. Live for now.

Okay, hope none of that was too cliché for you and helped some. And, if it didn’t, at least you didn’t have to pay me :-)

Write again if you need to. If not, I hope my words helped you some and I wish you well.
​
Hugs,
Papabear

We're back! ‘Furry and Loathing in Denver’ https://t.co/gklbyUV4H1 @FingersMalloy @AsheSchow & I discuss furries, the campaign, UVA and pot.

— TLC (@TracyLConnors) August 17, 2016

On this podcast, host Fingers Malloy talks about his visit to Rocky Mountain Fur Con in Denver. It starts 20 minutes in. Thanks to Kieran for sending this.

It’s a gentle outsiders’ look.  Fingers has a pastime of making fun of politics, but furries are spared overdone mockery. (“They’re not hurting anyone”, he says).  He mentions past negativity and compares it to picking low-hanging fruit.

Enough Already is for pop culture and conservative politics. In fact it shares some serious connections to senators, governors, Fox News, etc.

There isn’t a big overlap with conservatives and furries. We talked on Twitter after the show, and they were curious to know why? I gave a very generic reason of demographics.  There’s no politics about being a talking animal and we come in all stripes.  But young and queer people tend not to be overly enamored with the right-wing or christian fundamentalists. That goes both ways.

Take this example. At World Net Daily (the fringiest of ultraconservative blogs), furries were recently bashed as deviant pedophiles by Phil Elmore, a sad oaf crying for help to detach his head from his colon. It was just ranting about moral decay from someone so repellant that nobody would want to decay him. Furs at Flayrah were not impressed by the ignorance.

Another example: in 2015, furries were mocked in a trollish article by Milo Yiannopoulos, star of the “alt-right” at Breitbart. He’s a Gamergate figurehead.  Milo criticizes identity politics, rampant cultural narcissism, and “imitation identity disorders and theatrical attention-seeking”.  He singles out “transpecies” beliefs as a symptom, mashing together the worst fringes of Tumblr, otherkin and furries.

You might call Milo an alt-right hipster for adopting gamers to cozy up with youth culture. Since he seemed to want cred with nerds, I guessed he would answer my mail. I asked him to be nicer to the misunderstood furries.  He answered:

Of course. I suspect a lot of overlap with the gamers I love so much. Perhaps I should write something.

I think this is different from garden variety out-for-a-buck media sensationalizing. When furries are a pawn for conservative points, I sense fixation on how others should live from fossilized dino-turds like Phil Elmore, and just plain manipulation from slippery players like Milo. (“Just folks” friendliness can also mask apathy about whether others can live at all, but that’s another topic.)

I’m sure the affable hosts of the Enough Already podcast would demur about wanting everyone to be left alone with liberty for all. And I wonder if Milo will be cozier next time he talks about furries – perhaps in his own newly minted fursona (maybe a snake or weasel.) I’ll leave it to you to think about ulterior motives when media comes to our spaces wearing big smiles, but you can keep opinions while taking curiosity and niceness at face value. Thanks are due to the podcast for real effort.

Speaking of Gamergate, they seem to have a problem with misrepresentation by the media. HMMM, SOUNDS FAMILIAR. And they seem to feel that gamers are unfairly vilified. HMMM AGAIN.

If you ask conservative minds about who could be most responsible for furries being punching-bags, like clockwork, expect complaints about Vanity Fair, MTV, CSI, etc. being “liberal media.” (But who’s buying what they sell?)

There are some alt-right and “furries for Trump”.  One furry commented on the Twitter chat about that small section being his friends.

@bubbasjetpack it is possible although not easy, to be friends with people whose politics differ from your own. @PifOtter

— TLC (@TracyLConnors) August 17, 2016

“Agree to disagree” is a nice way to be. And if you can name other places where everyone hugs everyone like when furries meet, I’d love to hear. Maybe the rest of the world should try growing tails.

I have to mention a Twitter comment from host Tracy about acceptance of furries.  She asked if the “muzzies” would open their arms to us?

They sure would. President Obama (America’s #1 muslim and the founder of ISIS) invited furries to come hang out at the White House. Our international conspiracy is everywhere. Beware of trying to fool us or use us – just be nice.

Donald Trump Accuses Obama of Inventing Furries

— Dogpatch Press (@DogpatchPress) August 16, 2016

Donald Trump's Hair Has It's Own Fursona

— Dogpatch Press (@DogpatchPress) January 26, 2016

Another Loss For Trump Campaign - Chester Cheetah Endorses Hillary

— Dogpatch Press (@DogpatchPress) August 16, 2016

pic.twitter.com/AHSGSGR58H

— FURRY FANFICTION (@FURRYFANFIC) July 2, 2015

* (Seriously, there are some muslimfurs and members in places like Iran. I also have an article in drafts about how Furry is growing with new cons in southeast asia, but not so much in Malaysia and Indonesia because Islamic customs forbid showing animals doing human things. But that’s for another time.)

(Hmm, lots of exclamation points this week. Must be more stuff from Comic Con!) Loter Studios is the creation of John Loter and his wife Shelley Loter, both of whom worked for years as Creative Directors at Disney Consumer Products. They continue to consult for Disney (and assorted animation companies) on t-shirts and other merchandising, but since 2005 they have also been creating their own line of original products based on original characters. Just this year, that expanded to include their very first full-color comic book: Supa-Rillas, created with the help of John’s brother, animation director Steve Loter (Kim Possible, American Dragon: Jake Long). Simian superheroes out to save the world — all for bananas. Check out the web site to see more of what they’ve worked on.

image c. 2016 Loter Studios

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Hello Everyone!

We open this week's show with a discussion of how one in ten youth in Britain reports a distressing sexual problem in recent times. Is Brexit anxiety to blame, or could it be a far more simpler explanation? 

Our main topic is on setting Healthy Expectations. Many people in life struggle with setting healthy expectations and this can impact how they find others to date, enter into relationships, or even their day to day decisions and ideas. Your hosts open up about our lives, our struggles, and why there is a car circling Metriko's house. 

We have a question about sexual agency and whether you can deny someone sex if they don't show you their latest STI testing results. We also have some feedback on last week's show and whether or not we can address Anal Sex from a top's perspective.

For more information, including a list of topics, see our Show Notes for this episode.

Thanks and, as always, be well!

FA 033 Healthy Expectations - Teenagers having sex issues. Adults having expectation issues. People having agency issues. Newcomers having topping issues. Metriko having car stalker issues. All this, and more, on this week's Feral Attraction

Tonight Unfurled is back with some news and emails..like always! Settle in and join Vox, Tal, Roland and Adam in discussing their articles and enjoying language lessons! Episode -27 - Foreign Invasion!

Hi.

First, I just wanted to say that I love to read your blog. You give very good advice. That is why I am writing to you. 

You see, recently I started to have a very weird fear that I cannot help but think about. I often imagine that I meet a girl that I like a lot ( I have never been in a relationship) She likes me too and we start dating. We're really in love and she asks me if I want to have sex with her. So far, it's okay. I'm a pretty shy guy and sex scares me a lot, but I really love her and I know I'm ready. I ask what she's into and she says that she likes to get dominated. I freeze. You see, when I was a kid, I watched on television a documentary about U.N. peacekeepers and the shits they've seen in places like Bosnia or Rwanda. Pictures of muslim or tutsi women been raped or tortured come to my mind. 

Sure, we wouldn't go in BDSM for the first time together , expecially if it's my/ her/ our first sexual experience, Let's say it's the third time.

There, I see two different scenarios. In the first one, I accept to go in her fantasy. After one or two minutes, I start crying. I see myself as a fucking monster. I just end it there and the evening is ruined. 

In the other one, I do the mature thing and tell her that I don't feel comfortable with it. She reacts as a decent person and says it's okay. we go in the tame, vanilla sex I'm into. But I feel she's not very into it, that she wants something tougher. I feel selfish.

I know it's a stupid fear, but I cannot help but think about it. I have difficulties controlling my emotions and just thinking about it scares me even more from sex and love than usual. Every time I think about it, I watch some Hong-Kong gangster movie (google Heroic Bloodshed if you don't know what I'm talking about) and I wish I could just shoot it in the head. That I could just blow it away just like some Chow-Yun Fat. I'm too shy to talk about it with a counselor or with a friend. 

I have two questions, but if you only answer to one, it's okay . First, what should I do to stop worrying about it, and two, if said situation was happening, what do you think should I do.

Lord-Ikari (age 18)

* * *

Dear Lord-Ikari,

There are many things in the world one might worry about that one doesn't need to add to them by being concerned about something that has not happened and very likely will never happen. My suspicion here is that your fear of sex is generating a fantasy in which you take this fear to extremes (for you) and create this fantasy where sex is about violent, dominant behaviors. Therefore, to cause this fearful fantasy to subside a dose of reality is in order.

You have not even met a girl yet, correct? Let's take this one step at a time, shall we? First, get a girlfriend. This should be someone compatible with your personality. Become friends with her, learn about her life and who she is. Then, if you two do fall in love and want to take it to the next level, chances are she will not be into BDSM (it's a minority of people who are). If she's not, then problem solved and no worries.

But even if she is, you should probably educate yourself about what BDSM actually is before you freak out about it. One thing it is NOT is something out of a movie. Here is a very nicely written article about what it is and what it isn't:  www.buzzfeed.com/caseygueren/ultimate-guide-to-bdsm.

BDSM can go from fairly light to very hard and everything in between. And it is only one variant of many types of sexual fantasies people have (fursex being one of the many). Having these fantasies, it is important to remember, does NOT mean that a person is unstable or twisted. People into BDSM and other things are almost always seen as "normal" (whatever that is) outside the bedroom. They have jobs, families, etc. just like everyone else. Indeed, the number of people who have "normal" sex is far and away in the minority in this world.

So, to answer your first question, it is really a waste of time and energy to worry about something that likely will never happen; secondly, learn about what BDSM really is before you freak out about it. As with any partnership, couples should discuss their sexual preferences (what they enjoy and what they don't like) openly with each other so that they can have a more enjoyable experience. It's a give-and-take situation: your partner should also be willing to try and please you in return, and if one or the other of you has something they will definitely not do, then that should be made known and the partner should not insist upon it. Finally, if, after trying as hard as possible, you simply are not compatible in bed, then that is something to seriously consider before continuing on with the relationship. And that should answer your second question.

I'm glad you are getting therapy, hon. You seem to be suffering from some kind of anxiety disorder. You are consequently making the prospect of sex much more nerve-wracking than it needs to be. Discuss this with your therapist and hopefully they can help.

Bear Hugs,
​Papabear

Remember when everyone went nuts about Zootopia’s animators talking to furries, and even nutsier when it came out that they were intentionally marketing to us?  They noticed us!  

But could the conspiracy go even deeper?  Have you heard other furs wondering if we have insiders in the media (even celebrities), or Secret Furry animators making movies we love?

Here’s an interview with one of those animators. For obvious reasons, identifying details are protected.  I can’t reveal where they work, but I can tell you that they have animated characters in some of the biggest movies ever, as well as having a quiet presence on popular furry sites.  If I told you more, it could make your eyes pop out.  Please excuse me for keeping things vague and teasing you about juicy secrets for me to know and you to find out.

(Patch:) What’s your job like, and how do you like it?
(Secret Furry:) I love what I get to do for a living. It’s hard work and long hours at times, but each project brings new challenges and opportunities that keep things fresh, and help me better my skills. For as long as I’ve been at it, I still feel lucky and appreciative to get to do this every day.

Can you share a favorite movie, and a favorite furry artist?
Pinpointing a favorite movie is too hard for me. I’m an action, sci fi, and horror junky. Some films that I love include Die Hard, Aliens, Predator, Starship Troopers, and Hellraiser. I could go on and on, but you could probably see the direction I tend to lean. On the animation side, Aladdin, Lion King, Spirited Away are some of my faves. As for particular artists I can’t say I have a favorite as of yet. There’s so much great work floating around out there in so many varied styles.

Can you tell the coolest or most silly thing you have seen at work?
I can’t get specific here, but occasionally a celebrity will waltz though. I always kind of geek out when that happens. As for the “silly things,” they happen all the time.  It’s part of what makes the job light and fun even when the pressure and deadlines are on.

Can you tell the coolest or most silly thing you have seen in furry fandom?
I love walking around the open areas of cons, and just people/furry watch. There is always something funny going on, be it a furry on the ground covered in doughnuts, or furs doing fun a creative and spontaneous mini skits to entertain. At this years BLFC there was a guy walking around with a giant die, handing out prizes. Two thumbs up for that!

How did you get into furry stuff?
I don’t remember exactly the point at which I got swept up into the fandom. It’s odd because the costume characters at Disney Land always terrified me as a kid. I also remember really enjoying anthropomorphic art back when the internet was slower then dirt. I loved shows like TMNT, and Gargoyles. Brooklyn was my fav.  Out of everything I believe that cartoons and art were probably the gateway drugs.  Also, Halloween was and still is my favorite holiday. I use to love to dress up as monsters and buy all kinds of masks. Getting to be something else was so freeing and fun.

Did you get into it before taking a professional path?
I was into it in when I was in college, but had other interests that dominated more time. However I didn’t fully embrace it until around 3 years ago. Now I have a suit under commission, and draw furry art more then non-furry.

What does furry fandom mean to you?
It’s a fun and creative community, with a unique and varied fan base that is welcoming and tolerant. It’s also so great to be part of the social outlet the fandom provides.

Do you do a lot of furry stuff in person?
I’ve gone to a few particular cons 2-3 times over the past 3 years as well as a local dance event regularly. I’ve also gotten to meet a lot of great people and gone to a few meet ups and parties.

How much do you keep closeted or “in the kennel” about furry?
Though I wish I wasn’t, I’m extremely “in the kennel” about my furriness. My family doesn’t know, and my co workers don’t know. I actually feel as though it would be detrimental if some of my interests became known. This causes me to live a double life which is exhausting. 2 sets of friends, social sites, etc.

Is it just a hobby, or more complicated with other identity?
I identify with my character for sure, and have a lot of emotional investment in him. But I don’t think that’s necessarily the “real” me. It’s more of “another” me. I also have a pup persona as well.

How hard is it to keep it to yourself, whether practically or emotionally?
I think it would be harder if I didn’t have a partner or furry friends I could share my interests with. Thankfully I have both.

How many people do you let in on all the details?
I have told a few of my furry friends about more specific details, but it’s after I have known them for a while and feel like I can trust them. The first time I told someone it was hard but there was also a small element of relief. Having people you can trust is an emotionally healthy thing to have, and getting that within the fandom is awesome.

Are you strictly a pro at work, or is there any blurring of the boundaries – like have you animated characters that felt furry?
Well I keep things professional at all times at work, and while there are things that lean towards the furry direction, I have never personally worked with anything that was 100% furry.

How do you feel about NSFW dirty furry stuff?
Totally fine with it. Some of the art I draw, as well as some of the art that got me into the fandom in the first place is absolutely NSFW. However, I tend to feel my fursona is much more of a fun loving innocent character. My in person debauchery tends to be committed when i’m in pup mode, but not all the time.

Does being a Secret Furry make anything different about the dirty stuff?
I don’t get more excited about the dirty stuff because it’s a secret. I just like it, though I don’t know exactly why.

Do you know of other Secret Furries, colleagues or not?
Nope. As far as I know I’m an army of one. If there are, I’m sure they keep it under wraps for the same reasons.

From Secret Furry for this article.

What would happen if you couldn’t keep furry stuff separate from work?
I feel like it would for sure change the dynamic of the way people interact with me, and quite possibly hurt my longterm career. I don’t know that for sure but I just get the feeling. What wold probably be even worse would be if my pup stuff got outed. It’s seems to be seen by the public as a fringe and “crazy” thing to be into.

Have you seen others affected by being private or open? What happened?
Not personally, but I see quite a few jokes made that are about furries. I kind of just chuckle along

Were you aware of stigma about this in the past, and do you think it’s changed?
I feel like it’s always existed, be it though jokes my friends would make, or internet memes, or media coverage. It’s kind of made it even more difficult to imagine ever telling anyone outside the fandom.

Years ago, a talented furry was fired from a high profile mascot job they loved, because they were seen in the background of a TV show about Fur Con. They called it a “morals” issue. What would you say, if you could say anything to anyone involved?
I don’t know any of the personal details about this, or anything about the person who was fired, but it certainly sounds like an ignorant decision. I’d probably ask them to reconsider and try to explain that it’s fantastic hobby with many aspects positive and creative branches.  It can even be a therapeutic way for those that battle social anxiety, to get out and have fun. I’d ask if the person fired had been seen at Comic Con dressed as Rocket Raccoon alongside Star Lord, would he/she still be fired? People seem to connect the furry community directly to sexual behavior, and while some of that does exist, it’s not the majority, and besides, a person’s sexual interests – (as long as it’s not breaking any rules/laws, or harming anyone) – is their business.  Ultimately this just seems discriminatory.

Do you have anything to say to people who wonder about Secret Furries?
Like anyone who keeps a secret like this; part of the reason we’re closeted is because of a fear of social rejection. It’s a fear that’s justified by jokes, social media, and obsessively misguided journalism. It’s a hobby like any other and poses just as much of a threat as them. It’s different and can be visually arresting, but the people involved are kind, amazing people. Keep that in mind next time you put a joke in the cannon.

Have any advice for furry artists?
About furry art, no. I’m horrible. (Not true – Patch) For artists that are furries, I’d say there aren’t many artist jobs out there that cater strictly to the furry stuff. If that’s your only interest you may find getting a job difficult. Always strive to do what you love, but realize you have to develop skills that people are looking for, and you’re better off casting the widest net. I apologize for the vagueness but I could probably give more direct and tailored advice to artists in my profession.

Any other thoughts about furry fandom?
Keep being, fuzzy, fun, and adorable!

Any other thoughts about animation and movies?
I would love to see the industry offer more of a varied range of films across genres and ratings. The American market directly connects animated films to family films. There have been a few outliers here and there; most recently “South Park” and “Sausage Party,” but these types of movies are far and few between. There just doesn’t seem to be the market for that kind of stuff like there is in places like Japan. Come on people. Let’s make it happen!

Thanks to Secret Furry for sharing. The international conspiracy is real! 

In the past we’ve talked about the Kulipari series of fantasy novels for young readers, created by former NFL star Trevor Pryce. We’ve also mentioned that earlier this year the books were adapted into an 2D animated TV series running on Netflix. Well now the amphibian evolution continues as Red 5 Comics bring us the Kulipari: Heritage full-color miniseries (written by Mr. Pryce and Joshua Starnes, illustrated by Sonia Liao and Ronda Pattison). “Where the first season of Kulipari [the TV series] ends, Kulipari: Heritage immediately begins. Burnu, leader of the poison frogs, the protectors of the outback, has been sent on a secret mission to find the original source of the frog’s power and return it to their new homeland.” You can find the current issues at your local comic book shop, or else over at Atomic Empire.

image c. 2016 Red 5 Comics

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Submitted by Fred Patten, Furry’s favorite historian and reviewer.

Legacy: Dawn, by Rukis. Illustrated by the author.
Dallas, TX, FurPlanet Productions, June 2016, hardcover $29.95 (383 pages), trade paperback $19.95.

This is a mature content book.  Please ensure that you are of legal age to purchase this material in your state or region.

Legacy: Dawn is a standalone novel by Rukis, set in her world of Red Lantern (Sofawolf Press, March 2012) and Heretic (FurPlanet Productions, January 2013). Like the others, it takes place in a brutal semi-Renaissance anthropomorphic world.

Legacy: Dawn is narrated by Kadar, a low-caste jackal in a rigid stratified society ruled by a hyena aristocracy:

“I was born in a small village near the Hyronses river, to a family of laborers working in the brick kilns. My family, as many generations back as the walls of my home and the scrawlings of previous dead relatives could trace back, have always been laborers on the clay flats, working the brick kilns. We have little choice. There is no elevation from the labor caste. If you are born a laborer, and you live long enough to have children of your own, they too will be laborers. That’s simply how it is. How it has always been. How it will always be.

At least, that’s what I was raised to believe.” (p. 7)

Kadar only describes his childhood for the first four pages. After that he is an adult indentured servant, which is not practically different than a slave:

“He [Kadar’s guard] doesn’t hesitate to bring that up. ‘Your contract requires that you work,’ the hyena sniffs, ‘you can’t very well do that if you’re on the run. We’re legally obliged by our employers to keep you sedate and dutifully paying off your debt. By any means. Any injuries you sustain during an escape attempt are your cross to bear during the workday. The harvest doesn’t stop just because you went and got yourself damaged.’” (pgs. 11-12)

Kadar’s society is a multispecies one. With him in the lowest-caste indentured servants’ quarters – well-guarded, so it’s really a prison – are lions, weasels, warthogs, tigers, squirrels, cheetahs, meerkats, rats, ferrets, dholes and painted dogs — and a hyena. The hyenas are the top caste, so it’s very unusual to see one among the indentured servants.

The meeting and evolving relationship between Kadar the jackal and Ahsin the hyena; plus Lochan the aardwolf guard, Raja the cheetah (another indentured servant), and a few others is the story of Legacy: Dawn. Intermixed within this are many brief snippets of this world’s culture and history. For example, Kadar’s nation in this world is Mataa:

“In Mataa most canines were in unfortunate circumstances, not quite at the bottom since we could be fierce and hardy, but certainly very few were ever afforded the chances that a hyena, or even a lion, might have. Even the tigers fair better on the whole. Of course, they were enormous and tended toward isolated families, so really it was more a case of people not wanting to bother them. I’d never been really close with a tiger. Jackals and tigers rarely mixed.” (p. 77)

Mataa’s “indentured servants” used to be slaves until Mataa lost a war and the victor required that all slaves be freed. Mataa just instituted indentured servitude and went on with the practice. It’s a minor detail, but it helps to make the Red Lantern world a rich and varied one.

A very important detail is the shifting relationship between Kadar and Ahsin. They’re both indentured servants, the lowest of the low, but Kadar is only a jackal while Ahsin is a hyena. Indentured servant or not, that counts for something. At the same time, Kadar has a naturally dominant personality while Ahsin is submissive:

“‘I can’t be like Raja. Or you,’ he [Ahsin] says, knitting his hands in front of him, nervously. ‘I’m just not like that.’

‘Like what?’ I prickle.

‘There are those who command, and those who listen,’ he says in words that don’t sound like they were ever his own. ‘I am one who listens. I am meant to be kept, not a keeper.’

‘No one is meant to be kept,’ I say, pushing the words out with all the emphasis I can. His eyes widen somewhat at my change in tone, but he doesn’t look scared. Instead he’s staring at me even more intensely now, enrapt. His paws are still wringing at one another near his waist, tail tucked, but at least now I have his full attention. He waits expectantly for me to continue.” (pgs. 52-53)

The characters’ species traits can be important:

“‘It’s what’s right,’ the older hyena says again, and I hear Ahsan’s paws on the cobbled walkway, stepping backwards. I know the sound of his footsteps by now. That scent of fear is strong in the air, and the mix of smells I’m getting off the older hyena are disturbing. He has bad teeth, I can tell that much right away. Also, he drank recently, and there’s the definite reek of arousal mixed in there. We’re in a very isolated area of the yard, but still, surely he wouldn’t attempt anything in public like this?” (p. 92)

“I twist my ears as we move, mostly hearing the horses in the stalls beyond, stirring in their sleep or moving about, still awake. I can hear what are definitely paws moving about in the hay, but judging by the lightness of their footsteps it’s probably a servant, some kind of smaller species, tending to the animals.” (p. 231)

Legacy: Dawn is about Kadar’s and Ahsin’s struggle for the freedom to be together, in a society where both are treated as property that can be casually separated. It is also about Kadar’s confused instinct to be a dominant personality in a society where he is of low caste, and those of higher caste do not hesitate to punish those below them who get “uppity”.

Legacy: Dawn is an adventure novel with explicit violence and adult eroticism throughout it, from sadistic beatings to consensual lovemaking to savage rape:

“He brings the blade up just underneath her chin in a snapping motion, sinking the whole of it to the hilt up through her throat. The blade is barely half a foot long and thin, but her throat isn’t armored, and all that escapes her mouth in the seconds following is a surprised gurgle.

The male guard hasn’t even seen it yet. He’s about to though, and I know I have to do something. [spoiler] released the hilt of the dagger, leaving it in her, and he’s going for his sword, but all that guard has to do is send up a warning cry and we’ve blown it right out of the gate.” (p. 228)

The mature content advisory is deserved. There are seven interior paintings by Rukis, in black-&-white in this book but in full color on FurAffinity.

Legacy: Dawn should not be missed, if you have a strong stomach. Or if you want to know what 17th– and 18th-century slavery was like. Warning: Be prepared for a major surprise in the last chapter!

– Fred Patten

• Buy on Furplanet
• Check out Red Lantern’s Website

About Vulpine: Vulpine is a charming open-world game where you survive as ridiculously well-armed animals. Explore beautiful environments to hunt for food, gather resources, and search for signs of lost civilization. However, nature is not as peaceful as it seems to be... Ferocious monsters and endless dungeons stand in your way. Gear up and arm yourself to the teeth to take back your world as one of many different animals: fox, wolf, bear, rabbit, and more! Play solo or hunt as a pack with your friends!

Funding Site: Kickstarter

Funding End Date: Wed, September 21 2016 8:10 PM CDT

Funds Needed: $30,000

Funds Raised as of posting: $10,161 (Not Yet Funded)

 

Earlier this year our Friends at Equestria Daily quoted an article from USA Today regarding Hasbro’s new “fan series” of My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic toys, called Guardians of Harmony. This line of full-sized action figures stands out because the designs are not only expansions of what we’ve seen in the TV series, but they were also inspired by many of the stories and characters in IDW’s popular comic book tie-in series. In fact, some of the designs are based on ideas that Bronies have been discussing only in whispers! Besides some of the well-known characters, Guardians of Harmony includes figures of popular characters like Discord, a grown-up armored version of Spike the dragon, and even Weird Al Yankovic himself in pony form as Cheese Sandwich! Word is out that IDW may be creating a new line of comic books to include the Guardians of Harmony story situations, but we’ve yet to see that come about. Most of the new designs are available now at Amazon and other top toy destinations.

image c. 2016 Hasbro Toys

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Dear Papabear,
 
I'm a 14-year-old boy that is a major furry. I love the whole fandom. I was worried to tell my friends; when I told them they were okay with it, but they didn't get it. When I was riding with one of my friends in her car, I told her about being a furry. This was the first thing she asked me: "Are u gonna yiff when you get older?" I told her no.

When I told my mom, she knew the bad stuff about the fandom. My dad didn't know what furries are, and he is gonna research it. My question is, "What should I do to help them get the furry community?"

With Many Love, 
Just turned 14
Tundra

* * *

Hi, Tundra,

I've explained furries many times on my website, of course. Sometimes, though, pictures work better than words. Here are some furry videos that really show the heart of furry. Feel free to share; perhaps they will help:
​​

• Furries giving hugs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Id4KwyA8usk 
• Furries and charity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUm3HRU9dvI 
• A story about Anthrocon from NBC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHZ9SwTk2UE

The above emphasize fursuiting too much, of course. There is a LOT more about furries than that, including art, writing, and music:
​

• Furry artists: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4s_YEQS7cRk 
• Furry authors: Visit furry fiction critic Fred Patten's website http://www.kayshapero.net/FredPatten/fred.html for great material 
• EZWolf and furry music and movies: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheEZwolf 
• Amahdia: http://www.amadhia.com/
• Oh! And one Papabear's favorite sites: https://furry.today/ which is constantly updated with furry-related videos.

The problem with mundanes is that they only have one view of the fandom. Try and give them a more well-rounded perspective of what we are about and feel free to share these links and others with them.

Bear Hugs,
Papabear

This is different, yet it’s familiar. Say one day you are walking down the street doing your business when someone catches your eye. They look human. They have the eyes, nose, lips, skin, but that’s not what grabbed your attention. It was the ears for they are not human, but of an animal. Your first though is of a cat. Then you look down to notice a tail. You want to know more about this person. What they are, why they are like this, and maybe, just maybe, you want to explore more. That is what Tarl “Voice” Hoch presents to use with his new erotic neko anthology, Purrfect Tails, and they are OPEN FOR SUBMISSION!

So first thing first to those who don’t know, what on earth is even a neko?

A neko is a character who is either male or female with feline characteristics on a human body, generally a pair of ears, and in many cases, a tail. Unlike a furry character, they generally look human or extremely close to it rather than being a sort of half breed between a cat and a human. They generally still act like cats, or have cat-like tendencies, but also function as normal people as well.

A good place to learn more about Nekos is here: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/CatGirl

Edited by Tarl “Voice” Hoch, best known for doing horror anthologies, he got to become an editor cause as he puts it he fell into it.

I had been noticing that there was a distinct lack of horror books/anthologies in the fandom and made a tweet about it. Next thing I knew, I was getting all of these favorites and replies to it and Fuzz said FurPlanet were interested in it. So I wrote up a proposal and call for submissions and that was that. I learned a lot of lessons from that first anthology, had some good and bad experiences, but in the end it helped me to grow as a writer.

Already, Tarl has produced many works both within and outside the fandom.

I have a horror anthology published by FurPlanet titled Abandoned Places and I am currently working on a science fiction/horror anthology which will also be published by FurPlanet. I also wrote the story for an 18+ comic which was illustrated and printed by KomicKrazi and only available by sending me a request or at Fur-Eh! in Edmonton. Other than those, I am published in a number of anthologies inside and outside of the furry fandom, a list of which can be found here: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5759304.Tarl_Voice_Hoch

But that still leaves us with the question, why is Tarl interested in making an erotic anthology around nekoes?

About two years ago I wrote a story for the Transformation Anthology centered on a girl who was slowly turning into a nekogirl. The story dealt with her exploring the new sensations, new personality quirks, and the fact that a Tom seemed to be stalking her. Since writing that story, which had a strong erotic content, it’s been sitting in my mind pecking away at my inspiration until I needed to do something with it.

It was during the reading of the stories for my upcoming science fiction/horror anthology that I decided to stop pussyfooting around the idea of self-publishing something and decided that an erotic anthology would be perfect for my first attempt. The two ideas came together and this anthology was born!

Tarl is looking for all kinds of erotic stories to put together in the anthology. No matter the genre.

Beyond the erotic element needing to be centered around the neko character, I am looking for pretty much anything. I do have a preference to stories that end positively, as this is an erotic anthology and most people don’t want to finish a story feeling depressed. That is not to say I won’t accept darker pieces, but they won’t get as much consideration as others.

Other than that, I am looking for a variety of genres. With anthologies like this, where the theme is centered on a character type rather than a situation or setting, the writer has a lot more room to spread their creative wings. I want to see people bring things like steampunk, weird westerns, summer romance, kung-fu, you name it, I want to see what they can do. If you are curious if it will work in the anthology, feel free to email me at tarlwriter@gmail.com and ask me. I will gladly let you know if it will work or not, and even possibly go as far as to help you develop the idea. (though that won’t guarantee acceptance)

Of course there are some things to avoid when submitting your story to Tarl.

As with any erotic anthology, there are always a few rules people need to follow. For this anthology, I don’t want racism, sexism or there to be any discrimination presented in a positive light. I also (for obvious reasons) don’t want there to be anything involving characters under 18 or incest. Rape, torture, dubious consent or forced seduction are also out. Snuff, Necrophilia, golden showers, scat and most extreme fetishes are also a no go. Lastly, bestiality is out. The neko characters must have a human level intelligence and be able to make their own decisions. 

But there are probably some who might say that neko doesn’t even count as furry or at least could only be considered as diet furry with half the calories. Or that neko is more anime then furry, but Tarl points out how much overlap there is between furries and neko.

Many people within the fandom have come into it through the anime route. In fact a lot of fursuit makers sell ears and tails at anime conventions for the people who want to be neko characters. Characters with animal ears appear in a number of animes, as do anthropomorphic characters. (Such as Happy in FairyTale for example) For myself, it was AnnaPuma and UniPuma, a pair of nekogirl androids from Dominion Tank Police, that first introduced me to neko characters. From them, it was only a single step to find the furry fandom which I have been ever since.

It’s also something different from your average furry anthology, as the characters themselves aren’t really full on anthropomorphic felines, but rather closer to anime characters. This is refreshing in a fandom where felines are done quite often and nothing new is generally done with them when it comes to erotic anthologies. Place the book on the same table as a number of current furry anthologies, and it will stand out because it is different, and the human eye is drawn to things that are different.

There are also those readers who aren’t comfortable with the idea of sexualized anthropomorphic beings.  Despite being part of the furry fandom, they may still view the erotic content as too akin to bestiality and shy away. This anthology gives them another avenue to explore, as the characters themselves will be only a tiny step away from humans.

Now on to the requirements.

I am looking for stories between 3-10k, though I am willing to take longer. Shorter stories will be considered, but they have a smaller chance of being accepted. I am also looking for original, unpublished stories as well.

The deadline is November 1st. The book will be self-published by Tarl himself with a planned release for both print and e-book around May. Accepted works will be paid ½ cent per word. For more info visit the link. https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_posts/13364393-call-for-submissions—erotic-anthology

Fluff up your tails and ears to bring you erotic adventures to life.

-Matthias