It's a very little thing, but that is what makes it such a big thing.

The humorous 2005 murder mystery Owls Well That Ends Well, by Donna Andrews, in her Meg Langslow series (Revenge of the Wrought-Iron Flamingos, etc.), is set at a gigantic yard sale. It is absolutely non-Furry, except for a throwaway reference on page 106 by a minor character that he is planning to break up with his girl friend because she has sold his gorilla suit without his knowledge. Meg Langslow, who overhears this, comments that this sounds like a wise move. She has never understood the appeal of going to a Furry convention dressed as an animal, but he obviously has been enjoying himself and it doesn't hurt anyone, so why spoil his fun?

I think that this is the first time I have seen a reference to Furry fandom in the popular media that has not made a big thing about how weird Fursuiters and the fandom are, but treats them as just a normal convention &/or social activity. This is what we need more of. (Andrews has previously presented a knowledgeable and sympathetic description of TV-program fan conventions in We'll Always Have Parrots.)

The photos from the AC2006 FurSuit PhotoShoot are now online. You can find them here:

Gallery Page

More info on the Anthrocon journal

Thank you! :)

There is now a (tentative) fursuit schedule for Califur 1 (May 21-22)...

Qantas Airlines were embarrased by one of their baggage handlers on Wednesday morning. Passenger David Cox complained after he saw a baggage handler driven across the Sydney airport tarmac Wednesday wearing the camel suit that had been packed into the baggage he had checked in only minutes earlier. The Herald Sun reports that the handler was later fired.

Since in the post 9/11 world it is required that bags must be unlocked so they can be easily inspected, this clearly illustrates concerns that baggage is now far more open to tampering than before these 'security measures'.

Full stories available from both Reuter's Oddly Enough feed and the Herald Sun News (Australia)

OK, so we've all probably have seen the awesome Dasani commercials, but I found two more commercials for Golfsmith.com

The workers at the Tama Zoo in Japan prepare for animal escapes by holding a drill each year where they "capture" someone in a fursuit. Last year a polar bear "escaped," this time it was a lion.

NBC4 has the story a video clip of the drill

A Swiss motorist who thought he struck a dog discovered he had actually hit a man in a dog costume. The victim had earlier attended a stag party and passed out on the road while walking home. He was dragged about 120 feet after being struck but was not seriously injured due to the thick, padded costume.

Full story from Ananova.

The News Tribune has printed an article complete with a color picture from the Saturday fursuit parade. The online version can be found at here.

Linucon, the combination Sci/Fi Linux Expo debuting Oct. 8-10th in Austin Texas is looking for Fursuiters and Cosplayers! Read more for details, as Bookworm needs fellow fursuiters for panels and general masquading!

A Friday Night FurDance is one of the Fursuit events at the debut of CaliFur.

The FurDance will be at 6pm, Friday the 28th.
Saturday Fursuit events include a Parade, Variety Show and "how to" presentation.

With barely a week before the event, be sure to check out their site, CaliFur 0.

Burger King has a new promotional mascot for its chicken items. It's Subservient Chicken, a disturbing, pseudo-webcam chicken fursuit with garters on its legs.

Subservient Chicken poses and moves in exotic, often risque positions, and does...well...pretty much whatever the viewer asks it to. One has to speculate; is Burger King trying to corner the furry demographic?

Trickster

More news is begining to break about the alleged actions of a Walt Disney World Tigger.

This article talks of how more and more folks are coming forward with complaints.

"Gabibbo" has been the mascot of a popular satirical tv show since 1990, with music CDs and image licensing. "Big Red" has been the mascot of Western Kentucky University since 1979.

An Italian company's decision to license "Big Red" for use in Italy (cutting out "Gabibbo") may be the cause of the legal action. A magazine interview with the tv show director in 1991 may not help his case.

The International Herald Tribune runs the New York Times story at:
http://www.iht.com/articles/131511.htm

British techno producer Overseer (most known for soundtracks in movies like Snatch and Animatrix) has released a video 'Horndog' that contains fursuiters and actually make them look cool, sexy, good looking, and a bit dangerous. This is the best publicity I can imagine for the subculture. You can watch the full video on tne news page of this site.

Well hello to all!
Wally World (that great theme park in CA that was featured in the movie Vacation) will be hosting games the Con, MidWest Fur Fest.
This will be the second Year for Wally World to appear there. This year they are offering games for everyone. Those who don a character suit and those who don't want to. The games we are offering will include but the costumed folk in them and those who are Fur-disadvantaged.