Rabbit's stories

What's the 'Fast and Furious' scandal? Why should furs care?

Wed 4 Jul 2012 - 22:42

Last week the U.S. House of Representatives voted to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress. The charge? Illegally withholding documents that the House had lawfully subpoenaed regarding an ATF program gone berserk.

Pretty much everyone agrees that the Fast and Furious operation itself – which began under the Obama presidency and thus was ultimately overseen by Eric Holder and which involved supplying Mexican drug cartels with weapons without so much as consulting the Mexican government – was an ill-conceived failure, so poorly planned as to border upon the absurd. This much, the administration has acknowledged. But what they seem to want to cover up is, who knew what and when did they know it?

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Furry author Michael Bard gravely ill
Mon 15 Mar 2010 - 15:13

Michael Bard (aka "Morgan"), noted furry author on the TSA-Talk mailing list and the fiction-website Shifti (user page), fursuiter, and staffer at Toronto's Furnal Equinox, has suffered devastating brain damage as the result of an aneurysm, stroke, or other yet-to-determined brain circulatory disorder last Friday, March 12.

He was at work at the time, and wasn't found for approximately four hours. As of today, March 15, he was disconnected from life support but continues to breathe on his own. The prognosis, however, remains poor.

I was last with Michael as recently as last Monday — he was suffering from the flu, but was very happy with how well Furnal Equinox's first con had gone and pleased to be with friends.

Shifti is keeping a news page updated with the latest, best info available as a public service. Comments are also welcome.

Editor's note: Michael also pens the column "Through the Looking Glass" [older issues] for Anthro, maintains the Tales from the Blind Pig archive, and was co-editor of TSAT.

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Something You Just Don't See Every Day: Exploding Toads
Mon 25 Apr 2005 - 08:22

Toads are exploding by the hundreds in a pond near Hamburg, Germany. This is not the sort of behavior that one routinely expects from the typical self-respecting amphibian. Why did they all suddenly turn kamikaze? Oddly enough, race horses seem likely to bear the blame.

For more details, go here.

Ferret Olympics Held in Springfield, OR
Thu 19 Aug 2004 - 07:02

Can your ferret climb through an 18-ft dryer hose in less than six seconds? If so, he or she could have won the gold at the 8th Annual Ferret Olympics. For more info, see this Fox News article.

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Monkeys Operate Robot Arm Via Brain Implant
Wed 15 Oct 2003 - 15:21

In a North Carolina experiment, monkeys have successfully learned how to manipulate a robtic arm via brain implant. According to an article at this site, this is the first time in history that equipment has ever been operated in a three-dimensional environment via pure mental control.

Six-Legged Cow Born in Cambodia
Wed 15 Oct 2003 - 08:34

A six-legged cow born in Cambodia was donated to monks in Cambodia by her owner, who feared that her extra appendages were an ill omen. She has been named Cham Leck, which roughly translates to Bad Luck, and seems happy and healthy for the most part. You can see a picture at Sky News.

Personally, I'd rather see a six-legged cow than be one.

This Fluffy Guy Wasn't a Wimp!
Fri 19 Sep 2003 - 13:41

According to this article at CNN, an extinct species of giant prehistoric guinea pig has been discovered in South America. It weighed an estimated 1500 lbs, and ate grass. Presumably, it filled much the same ecological niche as a buffalo.

Somehow, I just can't picture _this_ animal being kept as a pet by eight-year-olds living in apartments...

Hitchhiker Chipmunk To Be Flown Home
Thu 18 Sep 2003 - 08:32

A Utah chipmunk will soon be flown home to his friends, and my but he'll have quite a story to tell when he gets there! See this story for details.

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Going Ape Over a Possible New Species
Wed 13 Aug 2003 - 14:39

Everyone knows that we discover new sea-dwelling species on a regular basis. And, new species of arthopods are hardly news, unless they happen to be found in NYC's Central Park. But a new species of large ape? Is it even possible? Read this article at CNN for more information.

This find looks very interesting on several fronts. Bipedal specimens six feet tall have been observed, and the species has shown an unmistakable interest in eating meat.

A skull picture is provided; there is physical and DNA evidence as well as anecdotal. Unless the find proves to be some kind of chimp hybrid or subspecies, something quite possible from the initial DNA findings, it looks like we might well have to find more room in the primate family tree.

Rabid Beaver Attacks in West Virginia
Mon 28 Jul 2003 - 10:34

An eight-year old West Virginia girl was attacked by a rabid beaver in early July, reminding us all that even the least aggressive of animals can be dangerous under certain conitions. See this article for details.