Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter recently published a commentary (translated by Ora) of Alfred Holmgren's interview of a literally diehard Sonic fan in gaming magazine Fienden.

At the center of the debate is French woman Alix Henriol, obsessed with Sonic since 2000:

I could have given anything to have become a robot or a character in a game.

The piece, posted on the newspaper's website, described Alix's desire to become cryogenically frozen until scientists can transfer her consciousness to a console, while referencing cosplay, erotic fan fiction and fantasy sex toy manufacturer Bad Dragon.

While most would ignore a stray dog or call an animal control unit, Jewish rabbis in Jerusalem sentenced a wandering dog to be stoned to death. The crime? The dog was suspected to be the reincarnated spirit of a secular lawyer who had insulted the court 20 years ago.

Update (20 Jun): The court concerned has strongly denied the original source's claims.

We've been hearing of the horrible tragedy in Japan over the past week caused by the earthquake and subsequent tsunami and nuclear meltdowns at the Fukushima Daichi Nuclear Plant, but there is one story of hope from the striken oriental nation: rescue workers discovered a dog guarding a fellow dog that was injured in the earthquake.

At first, the dog would not let rescue workers near its friend, but they were able to gradually bring the injured dog to an animal hospital in the city of Mito. The guardian dog was taken to a different shelter in the city; both are recieving medical treatment for their ordeals.

BBC 4's Inside the Medieval Mind recently touched on a question that puzzled medieval missionaries: were the dog-headed people thought to inhabit distant lands worth saving? [mekoryuk/furry reddit]

These beings appeared to be human in most respects, except that they had the heads of dogs. The question was, did they have the souls of humans?

Ursula Vernon's mythological representation of Capricorn as a sea-goat was commissioned as the poster-beast of the New Jersey Summer Reading Program, and featured in libraries and promotional material across the state.

Her work was packed with symbolism, but turned out to be controversial in a way she had not anticipated. [snow pigeon]

The official grand opening of MyRainbowArk.com is taking place right now, during Anthrocon '09.

Joining the original Christian furry mail group God's Creatures has been made easier.

In the past, I have run a closed group, requiring that all new subscribers come only by way of being referred by an existing member. I have lifted this requirement.

Concerned over those damnable atheist kitties:

TAIPEI, Taiwan - A man leaped into a lion’s den at the Taipei Zoo on Wednesday to try to convert the king of beasts to Christianity, but was bitten in the leg for his efforts.

My buddy Puck notes that it wasn't even a Roman zoo. MSNBC has the full story, including photo.

The Hindu worship more than just cows. October 24th is dog worshipping day as this neat photo and
story shows!

Hindu priests in Madras, India, ritually married pairs of birds and animals in an effort to promote world peace.

In addition to the 18 pairs of creatures married during the ceremony, prayers were offered to elephants, horses, and cows in hopes to reduce pollution and terrorism around the world.

Purging Inhuman Sexual Orientation with Christ, (PISOC), claims to be
a Christian organization whose aim is to help furries to escape, much
as if Fur Fandom were a mind-bending cult. I'm not sure whether they
seriously mean it, but I can't imagine anybody on the right side of a
lunatic assylum's door taking them seriously!

Check them for yourself.

Especially note their "10 quick facts" about Furry.

For instance, did you know that you've been castrated? Are you
snickering yet?

D'Otter

Did you ever wonder as a child (or as an adult, for that matter) if your pets went to heaven when they died? Or if there is a heaven for wild animals? If so, check out the article Will I See My Little Doggy in Heaven? in the July 2003 online edition of the St. Anthony Messenger.

This article is likely to be primarily of interest to Christian furs, especially Catholics. Followers of other belief systems can take it or leave it as they see fit.

I heard about a Dog Chapel/Church off of CNN, and it turns out to be off of Stephen Huneck's website. Located in Vermont, it is open to any breed of canine, any belief or faith of person.