Never really thought about how quickly dinosaurs must have grown, given their size... the recent Nature had an article on the growth rate of dinosaurs, which is summarized in this Yahoo newsbit. Apparently they didn't grow at the same rate that modern reptiles do.

Locus online reports that Fred Marcellino, the author and illustrator of the award-winning children's book I, Crocodile died July 12. He was 61. He was a freelance designer who many say changed the way modern book covers are designed. His most famous cover painting is probably the cover for Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale. He designed the covers for a large number of fantasy and children's books, illustrated many children's books, and wrote and illustrated a number of his own.

Some of you might remember Tad William's charming novel, Tailchaser's Song about a cat out to save the world... or maybe you've picked up some of his later work, the fantasy about Osten Ard (the Memory, Sorrow and Thorn series), or the Otherland books. It looks like Williams is jumping into online fiction experimentation with his website Shadowmarch. He plans to allow subscriptions soon, but in essence it's a pay-if-you-like-it fantasy serial. The author has significant plans for the site, outlined in the 'About' section. I think it's cool to see successful authors trying out the online fiction models... someone's going to have to, in order to find a way that works.

While I wouldn't normally post a random website for consideration on Flayrah, I thought it was just cause in this case... some of you might remember Tracy Butler's furry work from Yerf, and how she vanished off the face of the earth for about a year. She finally has a working website, Ainessa. Go check out her newer stuff (her updated human versions of her story characters are simply astonishing). Also among the 'I was recently resurrected and breathed the breath of life on my website' set was Aimee Majors, whose site remains in its Christmas configuration, but finally sports some news updates and additional art.

I'm off to Anthrocon for the next few days. I may check in briefly, I may not. A few things before I go.

For those who were following the sagas of elfwood: its baaack.


You will find that the rules have also changed, please have a gander at http://elfwood.lysator.liu.se/erb/rules.html.

Read the article at National Post.


Most famous for his roles in 'The Ghost and the Darkness' (he and his brother were flown to Africa for the role) and 'George of the Jungle', Bongo has been the freindly, well trained and lovable centerpiece for the Bowmanville Zoo for over a decade. Reciently diagnosed with 'inoperable lung cancer', the 14 year old lion is expected to not survive untill winter.


The veteran of dozens of movies and hundreds of commercials, Bongo has now retired to live with a young lioness for the remainder of his days in Quebec. it was the hope of his trainer and freind, Michael Hackenberger, that Bongo would mate and leave a legacy, but at this point it seems unlikely.


Many southern Ontarians like myself have had a chance to meet Bongo, and like Gentle Ben, he is a very sweet and well loved animal who seems to love his trainer and his work. He is already missed at Bowmanville.

What: Further Confusion's Annual Summer Picnic



When: Saturday August 4th, 2001 - 11 am til 5 pm

ConiFur NorthWest is coming soon this fall (October 26th-28th) in Seattle and is looking for help from the furry costumers in the genre to help out. The Masquerade to be held Saturday night (Oct 27th) will be done in a slightly different format than other similar events of this type in that we will be putting on a fashion/beauty pageant.

It's really difficult to post news about animals you can't help, so this morning I kept an eye out for 'Help Your Favorite Animal' type news. I found one in a newspaper: the storms in Florida have wiped out over 80 sea turtle nests, of the 99 that biologists were monitoring. The Clearwater Marine Aquarium allows you to adopt nests for $25, and they'll keep you updated on the health of your choice.

What about your favorite animal charities? Post some of them in the comments section, so we can all find a good cause. :)

No Werewolves of London but there are THE FOXES of London.

Article here.

You might also say that they are 20th Century Foxes. ;)

I want to relay this gentle reminder from Kagemushi, Anthrocon chairman. You must bring a photo ID to obtain a membership at Anthrocon. This applies to those who have pre-registered, as well as to those who are buying a membership at the door. See everyone (so it sometimes seems) there.

For our readers in the UK, the BBC reports that the first osprey chick to be born in 150 years in England has been born and promptly photographed. Apparently they were reintroduced in the 1950s. We have ospreys in my area; I've seen them perched on street lights overlooking ponds. They really are beautiful birds.

The Chesley Art Awards for science fiction and fantasy art and achievement are usually handed out at Worldcon, at the end of August. Take a look at this year's nominees.

Those of you going to Worldcon will have a great opportunity: Michael Whelan, the extremely talented sf/f artist whose work has appeared on multiple book covers, in gallery exhibits and in art books, will be present. You can visit his site online at Glass Onion. It's not too late to register, though it'll cost you an arm and a leg.