Alexander Grey's stories

Funday fans dig deep for PawPet Show
Sun 9 Dec 2007 - 18:00

November saw another success for furry fundraising events, as the Funday PawPet Show surpassed it's target of $10,000 in just two of their 4-hour broadcasts, thrashing last year's total of $3,940.19 in less than half the time.

Over 120 people are documented as donating to the show, many already regular viewers and visitors to the shows IRC channel.

T.H. Squirrel was celebrated as the largest donor, paying $1,400 for a Herbie Bearclaw commission. Many fursuiters also donated their services, and one fursuit maker raised an extra $350.

Said regular pawpeteer Kuddlepup:

I have to say that nobody on the cast truly expected the level of support that we got tonight.

The donations are set to go to licensing fees, operating expenses and hardware upgrades.

Miscellaneous news tidbits for December 2007
Sun 9 Dec 2007 - 13:00

Some interesting little titbits to sink your claws into! As dug up by our newshounds.

Midwest breaks records again
Sun 9 Dec 2007 - 13:00

Midwest FurFest 2007, the third largest furry convention in the world, broke it's own record in 2007, drawing a crowd of 1,689 furs - almost 1,000 more than it's nearest competitor Furry Weekend Atlanta, which recorded 762 attendees in the same year.

This doesn't match up to last year's exponential growth of 36% however, following the cancellation of Conifur Northwest, with this years convention reporting only a 16% growth on last year.

'ANTHRO' saved from imminent bankruptcy
Sun 9 Dec 2007 - 13:00

The fandom's most popular furry fanzine, ANTHRO, has been saved from imminent bankruptcy last October by none other than it's loyal readers.

ANTHRO editor Quentin Long was at risk of immediate eviction from his home and indeed the headquarters of the internet fanzine; however the community came to the rescue, raising over $500 in just a few days.

2 Gryphon heads new Michigan convention
Sun 9 Dec 2007 - 13:00

The furcon world was hit by amazement in October as 2 "the Ranting" Gryphon announced the launching of a new convention on his website, with himself as vice chairman. The already established MichiganFurs group are hosting the con.

Furry Connection North will be the first convention in the Michigan area and is set to take place April 11th to 13th, 2008.

Registration is now open, with scheduled appearances from 2 Gryphon and Uncle Kage. Latin Vixen, co-owner of fursuit makers MixedCandy, is slated to be a guest of honour.

Furries, Trekkies bowling tournament results
Sun 9 Dec 2007 - 13:00

Lucky Wolf and a Klingon prepare to battle it out

The much-hyped bowling tournament between the furry and Star Trek fandoms took place on September 29th with turnout of not only both groups, but people from G4 and FarkTV, as well as a bunch of mariachi singers too!

Although the furries eventually lost – due to the balls being impossible to hold while in fursuit, as well as obscured vision – the furries generally celebrated that such an event had recieved such a turnout; the furry team greatly outnumbering the Trekkie hoards. And of course, everyone got some good beer!

Fur Affinity sold to lead admin Dragoneer
Sun 9 Dec 2007 - 13:00

Fur Affinity, the fandom's largest and most active art community, has been taken over by lead admin Dragoneer.

Following the leadership scuffles reported in the last edition of The Furtean Times, the future of FA's administration has been in constant doubt. Now a final agreement has been reached with Dragoneer - also known as Preyfar - taking full ownership over the Fur Affinity website for a currently undisclosed amount.

Furries find a home at French art festival
Sun 9 Dec 2007 - 13:00

Furries appear at the French exhibition Rassemblement des Mondes Hors-Pistes - or Assembly of the Off-Track Worlds

The chilly start to December saw another example of furries in the mainstream art world at the French exhibition Rassemblement des Mondes Hors-Pistes - or Assembly of the Off-Track Worlds to those not proficient in French - where the fandom's artistic qualities were put on show for TRACKS, a French TV magazine showcasing subcultures and independent artists broadcast on French-German culture channel Arte.

This isn't the first time furries have been on Arte, with another TRACKS report from Conifur Northwest in 2002. The Eurofurence staff were invited along to the festival; where they sold examples of furry artwork, literature and comics in the main hall. Up on stage fursuit DDR was a big hit and a photo shoot followed soon after.

Reportedly 3700 people attended the festival, including many influential journalists, artists and politicians. Arte will be broadcasting a special on the event in March 2008.

Keep it decent
Sun 9 Dec 2007 - 12:00

It's very rare that I end up getting more than annoyed at something; even moreso when it gets to a point where I feel an intervention is needed. But last month just that happened.

I set the scene; it's November in the north of England, it's quite cold and is raining as it usually is. However the ecstasy that the day's furmeet brings is enough to alleviate such a low. It's the Manchester furmeet, the twice-yearly event when I get to meet the equivalent to a small convention of furs without having to spend a penny!

I meet old faces and meet anew. We laugh, snuggle and generally have a good time. Fursuits are brought out and the fursuiting events go on. The artists converge into "artists corner", show off their sketches and draw new ones. All the same to the average meet! A fairly perfect day in furrydom.

Then you see, and you learn.

Video: FMV Explosion
Sun 9 Dec 2007 - 12:00

Leon FauveLeon Fauve - "the Welsh wuff" - is an art student in Wales (surprisingly), who recently found fame for his "FMV" series of videos.

FMV Explosion is a series of "Furry Music Videos" created by Leon, each of which is a combination of random furry videos put to music and sound clips. There are currently six in existence, with a seventh on the way!